Chapter 118: Can One Discern Guilt?

"Is it only Grandma Zhao in Second Sister's room, or also Grandma Li in Bao Er Ge's room, and Grandma Nai in Lian Er Ge's room—none of them are anything but relying on seniority to boss others, with no decorum!"

"If you ask me, it would be ideal for Third Brother to straighten out this group of troublesome and vile servants!"

"The ancients said: To govern a nation, first govern the family."

"For a great clan like ours, if an attack comes from outside we might not die at once; the real danger is that we first self‑destruct from within, losing order and letting customs fall into chaos, leading to total defeat."

"Tan Chun's expression was fierce, and she voiced her unreserved support for Jia Jing."

"Jia Jing's recent actions matched her wishes; had she not been a woman, she would have long ago wanted to reform the family conduct and properly discipline those unseemly servants below."

"Beside them, Baichai held a silk handkerchief, and the clear eyes like autumn water flashed with a hint of contemplation."

"She knew Third Brother's strong character, so this outburst was understandable."

"But… this matter can't have anything to do with Maid Lin, can it?"

"Could it be that Maid Lin coughed up blood, provoking Third Brother's thunderous anger, leading him to lash out at Baoyu and the servants?"

"It shouldn't be!"

"It was clear that Third Brother came prepared; he had likely been secretly investigating for some time, and merely used this opportunity to formally launch a grievance."

"It's just that I'm unsure about the accounts of our own merchant house; could I ask Third Brother to help look into them?"

"Third Brother is swamped with duties; if I were to rashly make this request, it would probably be inappropriate."

"If I keep troubling Third Brother, it would seem I lack propriety!"

"Baichai lifted her gaze and said softly:"

"I wonder what the situation is over at Third Brother's side now?"

"A clear glint flashed in Shi Xiangyun's eyes as she suggested:"

"How about we sneak over and take a look?"

"Yingchun hesitated:"

"Isn't that improper? We, as young ladies, shouldn't expose ourselves; there must be many people over there now!"

"Tan Chun said in a clear voice:"

"No problem! Let's go quietly!"

"Xichun whispered:"

"I'll have Xiao Jiaoer lead us in through the back door; we'll stay in the side room, hide behind the curtain, and watch quietly."

"Good! Since it's Fourth Sister's idea, it's up to you!" Shi Xiangyun praised, patting Xichun's hair, encouraging her.

"Hehe! Watch me!" Xichun said with a smug smile.

"How come you also learned to say 'hehe'!"

"For a moment, San Chun, Xiang Yun, Baichai, Li Wan and a few others, each with their own maids, headed toward Jingwu Yuan."

"When they arrived, Xichun had the maid call out Xiao Jiaoer."

"Then, under Xiao Jiaoer's guidance, the group entered through the back door, proceeded to the front courtyard's hall, held their breath and stayed silent, quietly observing the scene in the outer courtyard."

"At this moment, Jingwu Yuan was already bustling with noise; hundreds of maids, matrons, junior servants, stewards and other servants had been gathered in the courtyard."

"They were all somewhat shocked, not knowing the purpose of today's grand scene, only sensing that something significant was happening."

"Around the side courtyard stood nearly a hundred armed guards, standing upright and utterly silent, forming a stark contrast to the chaotic disorder of Jia Mansion's servants."

"Jia Jing and Jia Mu sat on the carved huanghuali chairs at the front of the side courtyard, tea cups at hand, their expressions solemn."

"Wang Furen, Mrs. Xing, and Feng Jie sat beneath them, each attended by a maid behind them."

"These women were all married mistresses; in managing households they often dealt with outside men, so there was no need to avoid them."

"Jia Jing, Jia Mu and the others remained silent, merely watching the noisy scene in the courtyard."

"When almost everyone had gathered, Jia Jing cleared her throat, her face impassive, and thundered:"

"Bring Lai Da and the others up!"

"The command, cold as thunder, silenced the courtyard clamor; even Jia Mu beside Jia Jing jumped in surprise, glancing sideways and muttering that the brat had such a loud voice."

"The guards, hearing the order, instantly escorted the already detained Lai Da, Lai Er, Wu Xindeng, Shan Dalang, Zhou Rui Jia, Fei, Grandma Zhao and dozens of others to kneel before Jia Jing."

"Lord, everyone has been brought in! Not a single one escaped!" Zhu Que reported.

"Jia Jing nodded, stood up, and addressed the crowd in the courtyard loudly:"

"Some of you may wonder what today's formation is for!"

"I, the Lord, will tell you! Today's gathering is for one purpose: to revamp the family conduct and punish those in the mansion who are corrupt, rely on seniority to bully, exploit from within, and treat their masters with contempt—those troublesome and vile servants."

"Some time ago, someone reported to me that the stewards of the mansion were embezzling; I ordered an investigation, and the results were shocking."

"Our Jia Mansion, from top to bottom, has already rotted in a large swath."

"I have only just realized that while the mansion appears splendid on the outside, inside it is hollow and decayed."

"The accounts are chaotic, the treasury dwindles daily, duties are lax, no achievements are recorded, servants bully their masters, principles are turned upside down; the moral decay is unbelievable!"

"If this decadence continues and this evil persists, the ruin of the household is imminent."

"I, the Lord, have always been as strict as a mountain of law in the army; now seeing the family's regulations slackening, I fear disaster to the clan and disgrace to the noble title granted by the court, so I must correct it with military law."

"Therefore, today's gathering is to ask everyone to bear witness and to announce that henceforth the mansion will enforce strict family conduct and rules, governing the household with military law, clarifying duties, imposing strict rewards and punishments, and rectifying the fundamentals!"

"You all include generations of my household's servants, as well as my own children, and also collateral branches and concubine relatives; your lives and fortunes are all tied to the survival of the Jia Mansion."

"Lord and servant are one; when the mansion prospers, all share glory; when it declines, all suffer."

"Now, with military law governing the house and an iron fist against evil, we protect your livelihood and future, and also preserve the ancestral inheritance."

"May the diligent who are loyal have a bright road ahead; the obstinate who persist in ignorance face a abyss at their side."

"When Jia Jing finished speaking, the servants erupted into clamor again, each with a startled and uncertain expression."

"Some, who usually slither deceitfully, wore a sallow, uneasy look; others, who normally fulfill their duties faithfully, shouted loudly in approval."

"As for the detained Lai Da and the others kneeling on the ground, their faces were terrified, each casting a pleading glance toward their respective masters."

Lai Da and Lai Er, you two brothers have been the stewards of both households for years, skimming off the top and bottom, embezzling tens of thousands of taels of silver from my Jia family.

Lai Da, Lai Er, you two brothers, these years serving as chief stewards of both mansions, colluding up and down, embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver from my Jia Family.

You still go about outside using the Jia family's name, lending money at interest, interfering in lawsuits, breaking laws and disrupting order, committing many evil deeds—do you not know your guilt?

Moreover, outside you have been using my Jia Family's name, engaging in usury, interfering in lawsuits, violating laws and disrupting order, committing many misdeeds. Do you know your guilt?

Jia Jing first coldly questioned Lai Da and Lai Er, his voice filled with fierce killing intent, a murderous aura sweeping through the courtyard.

Jia Jing first coldly questioned Lai Da and Lai Er, his voice full of fierce killing intent, a stern and murderous aura sweeping over the courtyard.

The Lai family truly is the Jia household's biggest malignant tumor; they have embezzled the most silver from the mansion, not to mention other things.

The Lai Family truly is the biggest tumor of the Jia Mansion, not to mention the most embezzlement of the mansion's silver.

Most crucially, this family is wolf-hearted and dog-lunged; after the Jia family's decline, when Jia Zheng was short of funds and came to borrow money from them, they only lent fifty taels—essentially humiliating their former master.

Most crucially, this family is wolf-hearted and dog-lunged; after the Jia Family's decline, Jia Zheng, short on funds, went to them to borrow silver, but they only lent fifty taels, simply humiliating their former master.

Lai Da and Lai Er turned ashen, cold sweat pouring down; facing Jia Jing's overwhelming pressure, they dared not speak up to argue.

Lai Da and Lai Er's faces drained of color, cold sweat pouring, facing Jia Jing's overwhelming might, they really dared not speak up to argue.

Lai Da could only place his hope on Lady Jia, crying out to her:

Lai Da could only place his hope on Jia Mu, crying out to her:

"Old lady, I am wronged! Old lady……!"

Granny, I am wronged! Granny……!