Chapter 371

Lady Wang at this moment felt both startled and fearful, both sad and angry.

If Jia Zheng really encountered disaster, not to mention Baoyu's reputation ruined, even saying she herself would become a widow, her situation would probably be worse than that of Lady You of the Dong Fu.

One must know, at this moment Lady Wang's situation is loss of household authority, the Wang Family has lost influence, Yuan Chun has not been made an imperial consort, and the senior branch still has Mrs. Xing and Wang Xifeng eyeing her like tigers watching prey.

More crucially, the marriage between Baoyu and Yuan Chun is still undecided; if Jia Zheng encounters trouble now, the Nian family and … need not even be considered!

In any case, Lady Wang at this moment would rather see Jia Zheng give Baoyu a beating than have him encounter any problem.

Jia Zheng, hearing this, let out a long sigh, forcibly suppressing his inner resentment, and almost through gritted teeth said:

"Baoyu day by day fails to improve! In the clan school, both literary and martial examinations are at the bottom, not to mention..."

"Even Jia Jing feels he is beyond help, taking Huan Ge'er, Jia Cong and a few others out to properly instruct them, yet unwilling to discipline him."

"His staying at home, playing the ruffian and making no progress is bad enough, yet he also feigns ignorance and smashes jade, causing his niece to suffer further fright."

"My brother-in-law recently wrote me a letter urging me to look after him, and Jia Jing also said that Ru Hai is a capable minister valued by His Majesty, of great labor and merit, and he even specially sought a renowned physician to treat his niece's illness."

"Now that his illness has slightly improved, this wretched creature again acts out in anger, leaving me with no face to see Jia Jing, and in the future no face to see Ru Hai either."

"This wretched creature, from childhood to adulthood, has been obstinately stubborn like stone, never repenting."

"He bears not the slightest semblance of an elder brother, nor any aura of being learned and reasonable! Your constant indulgence will only make him more and more unfilial..."

After hearing Jia Zheng's words, Jia Mu's expression stiffened; she realized why he was so furious today, and felt compelled to beat Baoyu to death.

It turns out it's not just the jade-smashing incident; there's also poor academic performance at the clan school, and the reason Jia Jing did not bring Baoyu along when instructing Jia Cong and the others.

This constitutes three offenses combined, punishable by an increased degree!

After a moment of silence, Jia Mu sighed and spoke in a hoarse voice to console:

"Just now, it was merely a minor tiff between Baoyu and Yu'er siblings, but we have already reprimanded him."

"Even Feng girl, the eldest girl, and the third girl have severely scolded him, saying he should not have willfully smashed the jade."

Feng Jie beside them, hearing this, pursed her lips but ultimately dared not interject.

"As for Jia Jing not taking Baoyu out, it is not because he thinks Baoyu is beyond help and unwilling to discipline him."

"He originally intended to test Baoyu as well, but I thought that since Baoyu's time at the clan school is short and his studies lag behind, he should review more at home, so I did not let him go."

"All day today it has been his elder sister urging him to study and improve! You know, the eldest girl is most concerned about Baoyu's future; she would never allow him to loaf about and cause trouble!"

"Just now I let him rest a moment, who would have thought that the siblings, in a sudden burst of affection, would stir up a little joke..."

Jia Mu's words, sincere and heartfelt, provided a reasonable explanation for Baoyu's poor academic performance, not being taken by Jia Jing for instruction, and smashing the jade.

Poor academic performance is due to his brief time at the clan school.

Not being taken by Jia Jing for instruction is so he can study diligently at home.

Smashing the jade was just a minor squabble among siblings, and we have already reprimanded him for it!

Lady Wang beside him also promptly added in defense of Baoyu:

"What the matriarch says is true! The eldest girl originally felt sorry for Baoyu receiving many beatings at the clan school, saying the teacher was too strict!"

"I just told her, heaven, earth, monarch, parents, teachers — a teacher's reprimand of a student is perfectly normal..."

"Even if imperial princes and princesses in the palace do not heed their teacher's words, they deserve to be beaten; the emperor and empress would not blame them, let alone our household!"

"As long as we don't beat too hard, there's no problem; our family also knows propriety!"

Upon hearing Lady Wang's reasonable and sensible words, Yuan Chun's expression changed; these are not my words...

However, after considering Jia Zheng's health, Yuan Chun did not step forward to refute Lady Wang's unfounded remarks!

Upon reflection, this is actually good; the mother now openly expresses this stance, making it difficult later to obstruct Baoyu's studies!

Aunt Xue beside them also stepped forward to advise:

"Baoyu has made some progress compared to before! Formerly that delicate and pampered young master of a noble family, now he has darkened from martial practice and sun exposure."

"If he continues to work hard, in two or three years making the imperial list will be no problem..."

"That little dark, chubby face looks even worse than our own Pan'er!"

Yuan Chun furrowed her brows slightly and spoke softly:

"Father, although Baoyu is wayward, he has indeed spent two months at the clan school these days; if properly urged forward, he could certainly become talented!"

For a moment, the side rooms were filled with friendly advice urging Jia Zheng to quell his anger, and the atmosphere felt somewhat lighter.

However, to everyone's surprise, Jia Zheng utterly disregarded these consolations, snorted coldly and said:

"Don't come trying to placate me! I still don't understand what kind of nature that wicked Baoyu has!"

"Huan Ge'er and Jia Cong just told me that Baoyu simply cannot endure staying at the clan school."

"They said that upon returning this time he has no intention of going back! He must have already been pleading with the matriarch and his mother today, crying and begging not to attend school!"

"Moreover, regarding Jia Jing, I heard he originally intended to discipline Baoyu a bit, but you all feared he would be beaten, felt sorry for him, and refused to let him offer guidance or instruction."

"With your such indulgence of this wretched creature, you still talk about progress?"

"I only ask that in the future he not do anything that ruins the family reputation, disgracing our ancestors' faces, so that in the netherworld I may not have to hide my face; that would be enough for me!"

"This damned beast, I think it's best to beat him to death right now, to eliminate this source of future disaster!"

Jia Zheng was thinking back to his recent conversation with Jia Cong, Huan Ge'er, and Lan Ge'er.

Having heard several people's observations today and their profound insights into the people's livelihood and hardships, as well as Jia Jing's discourse on "cultivating learning and storing energy," "broadly adopting the strengths of many," and "perseverance," plus the poem "Bamboo and Stone",

Such experiences left him, for a time, filled with deep reflection, and some words struck him like a sudden blow, bringing profound realization.

Such earnest instruction, eager anticipation, and teaching by word and deed not only reveal Jia Jing's character brilliance in following the great path and walking the righteous way alone, but also show his sincere affection and enlightening intent toward the younger generation of the household.

Yet such a precious opportunity, rare for ordinary people, was missed by our own wretched creature due to indulgence!

Missing it would be bad enough, but he, instead of staying peacefully at home, acts willfully and smashes jade again, disturbing the entire household—utterly unreasonable!

Such a foolish, incorrigible wretch who only knows how to loaf about, cause trouble, and pretend madness, yet being painted by the matriarch and a few others as "knowledgeable of propriety and progressive," is pure nonsense, utterly absurd!

Our household's wretched creature, whose nature is hard to change, has probably been spoiled rotten!

Reflecting on this, Jia Zheng momentarily felt disheartened toward Baoyu, even the thought of striking him faded somewhat.