Chapter 107

Jia Zheng, after all, is a man of learning; unlike Jia Huan, he did not blurt out that Jia Baoyu wanted to force a woman and failed, but after saying this his whole body trembled like chaff in a sieve from anger, his face flushed crimson.

Lady Wang, standing nearby, heard Jia Zheng use such harsh words to rebuke Jia Baoyu, and, weeping, stepped forward and said:

"Baoyu is a good child! I know my child! He's merely been led astray by some seductive, demonic ways!"

"And that lowly little slut, not knowing her place, has stirred up this trouble—it's not his fault!"

"Although Master should discipline his son, he must also consider the marital relationship and be mindful of the child's reputation."

"I, nearing fifty, have only this wicked obstacle; I must inevitably take him as my example, and I dare not urge him too strongly."

"If today you are even more determined to kill him, isn't that intentionally cutting me off? Since you want to strangle him, you might as well strangle me first, then him!"

"We mother and child might as well die together; in the netherworld we would at least have something to rely on."

Lady Wang and Jia Mu have come here and already roughly figured out the whole story!

They know that Jia Baoyu first wanted to summon Xiangling to his chambers, but was then dissuaded by Shi Xiangyun and Xiren.

Afterwards, only because Lin Daiyu mentioned Jia Jing and became upset did she fly into a fit and smash the jade; in the end, her petty temper made her anger herself into vomiting blood.

In Lady Wang's view, Jia Baoyu is utterly blameless.

Jia Mu also advised in a hoarse voice:

"It's not a big deal! Baoyu's nature is pure and good; what young man doesn't like pretty maids?"

"Yu'er's health has been poor since winter began; I've already had a physician summoned, and it has nothing to do with Baoyu!"

Although Jia Mu likes Lin Daiyu, she likes Jia Baoyu even more; she cannot let Baoyu bear the infamous reputation of having made Daiyu vomit blood from anger.

Jia Zheng, stimulated by the words of Lady Wang and Jia Mu, turned ashen-faced, his complexion changing repeatedly.

He never imagined that Jia Mu and Lady Wang's daily indulgence of Jia Baoyu would be excusable, but now Jia Baoyu wants to violate the propriety of the folk in Brother Jing's quarters, and they still treat it as a mere trifle!

And yet they claim his nature is pure and good!

And they blame the folk in Brother Jing's quarters for not knowing their place!

This is simply turning black and white upside down, utterly unreasonable!

This is no longer indulgence; it's utterly without principle!

I merely wanted to teach this damned beast a lesson—is that really so hard?

With such a beast's nature, beating him to death with a stick would be wholly justified!

Jia Zheng, trembling with anger, said:

"Good! Good! You all protect him! Tomorrow, if he ends up committing regicide and patricide, then you'll finally not dissuade me! I……"

Before Jia Zheng could finish speaking, a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth, and his body slumped softly to the side.

"Master!"

"Zheng'er!"

Lady Wang and Jia Mu, among others, were startled and hurried to support him; if this caused Jia Zheng to suffer some mishap from his anger, what would become of us!

The room erupted again in chaos; Jia Mu had people help Jia Zheng to rest and sent someone again to urge the physician.

At this moment, Jia Baoyu also seemed to have been frightened into stupor!

He stood there dazed, his gaze vacant, utterly motionless!

Calling him elicits no response; shouting at him brings no reply, as if he cannot see or hear anyone at all.

Jia Mu and Lady Wang were instantly flustered, their faces horrified; they felt a wave of dizziness and burst into tears.

Jia Mu exclaimed anxiously:

"Baoyu! My heart and liver! What's happened to you?"

Jia Baoyu, in his stupor, only muttered:

"I want Lin Mei, I want Lin Mei to play only with me, not with Jia Jing!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Mu's face fell, and she found it hard to speak lightly.

Lady Wang, meanwhile, hurriedly said:

"Good, good, good! From now on, only play with you! Don't scare Mother, are you all right?"

Jia Baoyu again said:

"They all praise Jia Jing's virtues, his poetry, his great deeds abroad, and they all draw close to him and keep away from me."

"I feel anguished; I want the sisters to play only with me, not to speak to him, nor to go to his courtyard."

San Chun, Baichai, Feng Jie, and others standing nearby heard this, and their expressions changed—what is happening?

In this household, is another brother really not even allowed to speak?

Moreover, Third Brother has been busy outside; aside from seeing each other once when he returns home, he basically has no time to meet on ordinary days—where does the notion of being close to him but not to you come from?

Jia Baoyu's feigning madness and stupidity, prompting Jia Mu and Lady Wang to agree to his jesting words, inevitably makes people find it laughable!

Of course, some people understand deep down that this is Baoyu fearing the loss of the former treatment of being surrounded by everyone in the household.

But Jia Mu and Lady Wang treat Baoyu as their heart and liver—how could they have imagined these things!

Although Jia Mu feels pity for Baoyu, when it comes to Jia Jing, she harbors some degree of apprehension in her heart.

She dare not make reckless promises, fearing that if Brother Jing finds out, it will stir up another uproar.

Lady Wang, however, had no such reservations; when Baoyu fell into his stupor, her mind went blank.

Seeing her precious Baoyu reduced to such a pitiable state, she hurriedly answered, over and over:

"Good, good, good! From now on, let them only play with you, not play with the concubine-born son of the main house! Don't go to his courtyard! Get well soon! Don't scare Mother!"

As soon as Lady Wang spoke these words, the hall fell silent, and everyone's expression turned grim.

Jia Mu's expression stalled, but thinking of her dear Baoyu, she let out a quiet sigh and said nothing.

Tan Chun, Yingchun, and the others all wore indignant expressions, especially Yingchun—her own elder brother, how could she not be allowed to see him?

Baichai's expression remained unchanged; she has her own mother, and Lady Wang's authority does not extend over her—she merely looked at Baoyu with a hint of contempt.

Compared to Third Brother, Baoyu is like a little baby in swaddling clothes—too immature!

I don't know when Third Brother will return, but I've been devoting this period to reading history and military texts.

I've also brushed up on court affairs; talking with Third Brother should make him look at me anew!

Wang Xifeng, standing nearby, flashed a hint of excitement in her eyes:

Great! Now there's a good show to watch—the second branch and the third younger brother are facing off!

Again demanding the third younger brother's maid, again forbidding Yingchun and her companions from getting close to him—with his temper, can he tolerate their nonsense?

I must hurry and send this news to the third younger brother!

When they lock horns like snipe and clam, I might just reap the benefit as the fisherman!

…………

Bashang Daying.

By the time the messenger boy sent by Wang Xifeng arrived, Jia Jing already had learned the news from the Jia Mansion.

This was no surprise to him—Jia Baoyu's jade-smashing has already become a famous scene!

I never expected this time to actually make Lin Meimei and Jia Zheng both faint from anger!

As for that foolish woman, Lady Wang, she not only wants to lend the Jia Mansion's connections to Wang Ziteng.

She even spouts the foolish notion of keeping the Jia Mansion's ladies away from him—nothing but wishful thinking!

"Marquis, how should we handle this? Over at the Jingying, Wang Ziteng has been active these past days—he certainly has a chance to take charge of military affairs!" Zhu Que, standing below the hall, spoke up.

"Should we send a word to the founding lineage's martial merit, telling them not to cooperate with Wang Ziteng?" Zhu Que, standing below the hall, asked.