Chapter 399: Another One Joined In?

Tan Chun looked toward the youth whose voice rang like clashing metal; her jade‑like face was stunned, and faint rippling circles rose in her charming bright eyes.

She knew that she had not done anything wrong yesterday.

When Third Brother handed over the stewardship that day, he warned her that as long as she governs the household publicly, keeps the family in mind, upholds righteousness, and handles affairs earnestly, she should just go ahead; he will support her!

This firm stance now is perhaps the best proof!

Yuan Chun looked at Jia Jing, a complex expression on his dignified face!

She both agreed with Jia Jing's insistence on strictly admonishing Jia Baoyu, yet couldn't help worrying about Baoyu and Lady Wang's situation.

Her own mother is still lying in bed, muttering that Baoyu must not get into any trouble!

If they learn that Jia Jing's attitude is this severe, they wonder whether it can be accepted! Will the illness worsen further!

Qingwen stood aside at this moment, lifting her increasingly charming oval face, and the bright eyes beneath her willow‑like brows held a hint of relief!

This Second Uncle Bao once thought of forcing me into his courtyard; fortunately Sister Yuan Yang spoke to me, allowing me to come to Third Uncle's room!

Otherwise, how could such an opportunity arise now!

When I have free time today, I still need… to properly thank Sister Yuan Yang!

Xiangling's simple face showed bewilderment, her gaze flickered, and she felt a few doubts.

Third Uncle's anger, it's unclear how much is because Second Uncle Bao harassed Miss Lin…

Jia Mu's complexion turned pale; although she had already anticipated that when she came to plead, the third grandson's attitude wouldn't improve,

but she didn't expect that even without saying two words, it would be such a "storm‑like" sharp rebuke!

This scolding that left her unable to lift her head made her feel as if she were facing the Duke of Xianrong!

They all wield such life‑and‑death authority, command eight seats, have an unyielding, masculine temperament, heroic and not ordinary…

Jia Mu hurriedly interrupted her wild thoughts, forcing a smile onto her aged face as she said:

"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Jing is right! Baoyu did something wrong, he should be punished!"

"Yesterday I even told Baoyu's father that whatever the clan does, there will be no second thoughts!"

"But, Brother Jing, you don't know that when Baoyu's vital organ was found yesterday, it actually cracked, an ominous sign indeed."

"That was a lucky charm he always carried when he fell on the grass; now that this mishap occurred, I'm worried he might get into trouble!"

"Baoyu's mother was so frantic that she vomited blood and fainted, also worrying…"

Jia Mu hadn't finished when Jia Jing cut her off in a deep voice:

"Last time you made Second Uncle vomit blood, this time you made his mother vomit blood; next time should it be the old lady? You despicable beast!"

Jia Mu was stunned for a moment, then hurried to explain:

"No! No! Baoyu's mother vomiting blood has nothing to do with Baoyu; she is worried, and without the spirit‑linked Baoyu's protection, how will Baoyu survive in the future!"

"Now she lies ill in bed, constantly muttering that Baoyu will be punished by the clan…"

This is the act of correcting attitude, admitting fault, and using emotion to sell tragedy!

A pitiful mother vomiting blood in bed, constantly worrying about her son; such deep mother‑son bond—should the clan forgive, sparing Baoyu this beating!

"Oh? Without the spirit‑linked Baoyu, why is Wang so worried about Baoyu's safety?" Jia Jing asked expressionlessly.

Upon hearing this, Jia Mu thought Jia Jing's stance had softened, and a few threads of joy flashed in her aged eyes.

Yuan Chun paused while lifting the tea cup, surprise flashing on her snow‑white skin, and she raised her crystal‑clear, watery eyes to stare.

Could Brother Jing be hoping to spare Baoyu once for the sake of his own mother's face?

Filial piety surpasses heaven; if using the mother's bedridden state as a reason, it can indeed be accommodated a bit!

Yet, didn't Brother Jing say he had no affection for his own mother?

Tan Chun furrowed her brows beside, not knowing why, she felt that Third Brother's words were not exactly "good words"?

Jia Mu's face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly said:

"Exactly! Yesterday the Imperial Physician came and said Baoyu's mother vomited blood and fainted because her heart was overwhelmed with worry."

"In the end, it's just that she can't let go of Baoyu! Brother Jing, do you think we should give Baoyu another chance to correct his mistake? His constitution is weak, he can't endure a beating…"

Tan Chun and Yuan Chun exchanged glances upon hearing this; didn't the Imperial Physician say that worry turned into illness, a mix of shame and anger?

Jia Jing sneered, saying:

"If Wang truly worries that Baoyu will lose protection in the future, I think we should have her, once recovered, go to the ancestral hall to copy sutras for Baoyu, praying daily while kneeling before the ancestral tablets."

"If Heaven sees her sincerity, perhaps it will bestow great blessings upon Baoyu!"

This naturally means Lady Wang would be confined to the ancestral hall!

Jia Mu's complexion changed, exclaiming:

"Brother Jing, you're joking!"

Jia Jing's face hardened, and in a deep voice he said:

"I never joke! Yet the old lady still has the nerve to bring up Wang!"

"Did she think I didn't know those unreasonable, reckless words she said yesterday?"

"What does it mean that if one is not blood‑related, they can't be raised? What does it mean that without feathers, one forgets the roots and only picks the high branches to fly away?"

"Third Sister is the steward I personally appointed before everyone; she handles affairs impartially, without bias."

"Wang, relying on her status as the legitimate mother, meddles arbitrarily, slanders, blocks Second Uncle from teaching his son, and sows discord between legitimate and concubine children."

"Does she even consider the Jia Family's house rules? Does she think no one can govern her?"

Jia Mu's expression grew solemn; she opened her mouth but didn't know how to argue.

After all, when Jia Jing originally appointed Tan Chun as steward, he indeed declared before everyone that no one may interfere!

Moreover, Lady Wang's words yesterday were indeed… inappropriate!

After a moment, Jia Mu could only try to make up:

"Baoyu's mother, in a moment of panic, was harshly scolded by your Second Uncle yesterday!"

He already scolded, you can't scold anymore!

Jia Jing gave a cold snort and said:

"If it weren't for giving face to the second elder master, today I would have to bring her into the ancestral hall, in front of the whole clan, and ask where her womanly virtue lies!"

"Last time I already let go of the matter of subsidizing the Wang family; this time you still dare to be so wanton!"

"... You can't just let her off like that! After the old lady goes back, tell her!"

"Make her copy the Female Precepts, Inner Instructions, Female Analects, and Female Fan Jie Lu for a year, at least a thousand characters each day to be turned in at the Dong Fu."

"This way it will both cultivate her virtue and make her remember it for a long time! If she can't even fulfill her duty of assisting her husband and raising children, what's the point of her eating vegetarian and chanting Buddha all day?"

"The Female Precepts, Inner Instructions, Female Analects, and Female Fan Jie Lu together are actually the Female Four Books, the core teaching material for women's education today!"

"The content basically covers all aspects of a woman's conduct in life, mainly establishing moral norms and regulating speech and behavior, teaching how to become a good wife and good mother!"

"Furthermore, with Jia Jing's status as a first-class duke and head of the Jia family, making Lady Wang copy the books is entirely appropriate!"

"Even if Lady Wang really did something that harmed the Jia family and the clan's interests, for Jia Jing to set up a Buddhist hall to confine her or simply give her a length of white silk to let her die with dignity would be easy!"

"In a feudal clan society, facing Jia Jing's punishment, Lady Wang truly wouldn't dare to say another word!"

"Of course, out of consideration for Jia Zheng, Yuan Chun, and Tan Chun's reputation, Jia Jing still showed leniency!"

"Jia Mu was stunned; what is this saying?"

"Baoyu's love affair didn't succeed, and he even got dragged into another?"