Chapter 369

As Baoyu's personal maid, Xiren's confirmation naturally settles the matter.

"In that case, this matter is indeed Second Brother's groundless troublemaking, disturbing the household's peace!"

"Lin Sister resides in our household, originally helpless and alone; Third Brother also said that Lin's father, the salt inspector in Yangzhou, works hard with great merit to the state, so Lin Sister should be properly cared for while staying here."

"Now Second Brother's temperament is fickle, his moods unpredictable; he often smashes jade and causes disturbance—how is that proper hospitality? Where is there any sign of a brother who loves and protects his sister?"

"However, Second Brother is after all our elder; as his younger sister, I have no grounds to reprimand him."

"I think we should report this to Father and Third Brother and let them handle it!" Tan Chun said, her expression solemn, speaking softly.

Seeing Tan Chun summon people to call Jia Jing and Jia Zheng, Jia Mu's heart jumped, and she said in a hoarse voice:

"Third Miss, Second Brother is just playing with Jade; you don't know his nature—he means no harm!"

"Their bickering has been going on for more than a day or two; why take it so seriously?"

Jia Mu truly feared that if Tan Chun summoned Jia Zheng and Jia Jing, Baoyu would surely be beaten to death!

Before Jia Mu finished speaking, Tan Chun said solemnly:

"Grandmother, precisely because it's not just a matter of a day or two, we need Father and Third Brother to give him a lesson."

"Otherwise, Second Brother will keep causing trouble—when will it end? Besides, even if I don't speak up, wouldn't Third Brother and the others find out anyway?"

In fact, Tan Chun does have some desire to protect Baoyu, after all they grew up together as siblings.

First, Baoyu is indeed unbecoming, and she thinks he should be properly disciplined and urged to improve.

Second, as a household manager, with Feng Jie watching covetously nearby, she cannot show favoritism, lest she violate Third Brother's order and be unable to answer for it!

Lady Wang listened to Tan Chun's unsparing words, her brows knotted tight, and she unconsciously clenched her Prayer Beads in her hand.

What does "fickle temperament" mean? What does "unpredictable mood" mean? What does "groundless troublemaking" mean?

To baselessly accuse Baoyu in front of everyone—is that not damaging his reputation?

Lady Wang felt as if she had swallowed a fly, her face turning deathly pale.

Since the eldest branch's illegitimate son gained power, not only that wicked niece refuses to regard me, but she repeatedly opposes me.

Moreover, even my own concubine daughter now sides outward, not considering me as the principal mother and her elder brother.

Instead, she wields the eldest branch's illegitimate son's trivial feather as a command token, ordering us about and making rash judgments!

Lady Wang's face was covered with a cold frost, and she spoke sternly:

"How did this all become Baoyu's groundless troublemaking! Leaving today aside, don't you sisters have any responsibility?"

"How has Baoyu treated you all along? Whenever there's something good to eat or play with, he always thinks of you first—why don't you ever take the initiative to care for him?"

"Now he merely wants a sachet, yet Lin sister keeps making excuses and refuses to make one for him—isn't that chilling his heart?"

"If Lin sister had agreed to him, would any of these later troubles have arisen?"

"Now his jade is missing, he's become simple-minded, and you still pour filth on him? It's as if your conscience has been devoured by dogs!"

Lady Wang's words left everyone present stunned.

"Leaving today's matter aside—can the argument be any more twisted?"

Yuan Chun beside them, her lovely, pale face bearing a touch of solemnity, could bear it no longer and said:

"Mother, how biased your words are! How can this be blamed on others?"

"Baoyu breaking his jade is wrong in itself; instead of properly educating him, you bend over backwards to find excuses for him to shirk responsibility—where is there any semblance of an elder?"

"Moreover, even between close siblings it's improper to make such intimate items as sachets, let alone between cousins."

"This concerns the reputation of the ladies in the household—how can it be left to chance? Now that the brothers and sisters are older, they ought to observe proper male-female boundaries; how can we let him run wild?"

Yuan Chun now understands why Baoyu has become so spoiled and decadent—the root lies entirely with the grandmother and her own mother!

As soon as Baoyu is involved, those two lose all sense, their hearts flying to the heavens—where is any reason left?

Tan Chun fell silent for a moment, then said:

"Today's matter was originally just a trivial thing—what deep hatred could there be between siblings?"

"It's merely an occasional spat, a bit of bickering—why would we need to intervene?"

"But Second Brother absolutely should not have smashed the jade again! As Second Sister-in-law said, how many times has he smashed jade from childhood to adulthood?"

"Whenever anyone slightly displeases him, he brandishes the jade-smashing as a sword of authority, feigning idiocy and disturbing the whole household."

"The grandmother and mother dote on him; whenever he smashes jade, it's as if the sky has fallen, only further indulging his willfulness as his excuse."

"Think of our Rongning ancestors—who among them wasn't a pillar of heaven and earth? Third Brother is even more renowned throughout the land as a heroic man."

"Yet Second Brother behaves so fickle, repeatedly uncorrected, always throwing tantrums and acting willfully within the inner quarters—truly rude!"

"Third Brother previously issued an order forbidding him to smash jade; now, in full view of everyone, he has caused such a disgrace—what can we do?"

As soon as Tan Chun spoke these words, the side hall fell silent.

Jia Mu's expression shifted slightly, she opened her mouth, but for a moment didn't know how to rebut.

Now that Tan Chun and Feng Jie, the two household managers, and Yuan Chun have all clearly expressed dissatisfaction with Baoyu's jade-smashing, she finds it hard to speak in his defense.

After all, Tan Chun and Feng Jie's managerial authority was granted by Jia Jing, who explicitly stated that no one may interfere!

Lady Wang, hearing Tan Chun's words, became greatly displeased and shouted angrily at her:

"You now talk only of Third Brother—do you still have any regard for me and the grandmother?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun bowed to Lady Wang, then spoke firmly and solemnly:

"I dare not! But as the one charged with household duties, I truly dare not show favoritism!"

Lady Wang wore a sullen face and spoke coldly:

"I see you just want to step on me and your Second Brother's heads to assert authority—you don't know a shred of filial duty! No wonder you're not my biological child; you're just not raised right!"

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun's face changed, and she hurriedly knelt, pleading in a sorrowful voice:

"Mother's words truly chill my heart! If I were a man, able to go out, I would have left long ago to establish a career, and then I would have my own principles."

"But being a girl, I have no right to speak at length."

Third Brother knows it all in his heart; nowadays, only because he values me, he has me take charge of household affairs.

I haven't even done a single good deed, yet Mother comes first to blame me.

If Third Brother were to find out, fearing I'd be embarrassed and not letting me manage, that would truly be shameless—even Mother would be utterly shameless!

Lady Wang simply wouldn't listen to what Tan Chun had to say, continuing to shout angrily:

I see you as having no feathers, forgetting your roots, only flying off to high branches!

Tan Chun's face suddenly turned pale, and she said sorrowfully:

Mother speaking like this, the daughter has no face to go on living...

Before Tan Chun could finish her words, a sudden explosive shout came from outside the door:

You foolish woman, raising such a wicked beast! Today it simply cannot be kept; bring me a stick, and I'll beat this wicked beast to death!