Chapter 7: 7. Chapter 7: Commotion

Chapter 7: Uproar

A storm officially began to brew, with the Jia family school at its center.

It seemed as though nearly all the fierce and aggressive guards of the Ningguo Mansion had been mobilized. Although they hadn't alerted others, they couldn't hide it from the neighboring Rongguo Mansion.

However, since Jia Zhen hadn't called for them and Jia Dairu hadn't requested them, Jia Lian could only have Wang'er make inquiries first.

"Something doesn't seem right. How did I hear that Aunt and Sister-in-law have also gone over there?"

Wang Xifeng, who had been married for just over three months, had already gained control over most of the maids and matrons in the mansion with the help of her aunt, Lady Wang. Since the servants of the two mansions were interconnected and related, she happened to hear the gossip.

She hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now...

"That's a schoolhouse. They shouldn't be going there unless something major happened!"

This?

Jia Lian felt uneasy. "Could it be about Rong-ge'er?"

"Nine times out of ten, that's it." Wang Xifeng got down from the *kang*. "No one else could trouble Aunt and Sister-in-law. Don't wait for Wang'er; you should hurry over and take a look!"

Before she could finish, Ping'er rushed in breathlessly. "Second Master, Second Mistress, the old lady from the schoolhouse side is crying all the way to find the Old Matriarch. She says Master Zhen has seized Master Ru, and regardless of the fact that Master Rui is ill, he has dragged him into the school to beat him."

What?

Jia Lian was shocked. "You go to the Old Matriarch's place to keep watch; I'm going to the school."

Before the words left his lips, he turned and left.

But just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he heard faint wailing. A young maid rushed over, "Second Master, Second Mistress, many of the wives and mistresses of the clan are crying as they head to find the Old Matriarch and the Mistress."

...

Outside the schoolhouse gate, Shen Ning, who had been basking in the sun, was already being served by maids and matrons from the mansion, warming herself with a brazier.

Although the sun was pleasant, she had died once more, and her hands and feet were ice-cold. To warm up quickly, a brazier was best.

Shen Ning was terrified of dying again.

This body was in such poor condition that if she didn't take care of it at all times, she feared she would follow in the footsteps of the original owner.

The knocking at the door and the wailing of the women outside didn't stop her from drinking the freshly brewed brown sugar and jujube tea.

For the sake of her sleep tonight, she didn't dare drink tea leaves.

But since she had just been squeezed of quite a bit of blood, a cup of brown sugar and jujube tea was necessary.

"Mother, I'm afraid the Old Matriarch from the West Mansion will be alarmed."

Lady You looked at her mother-in-law, whose complexion had improved quite a bit in this short time, and couldn't help but worry about how today's events would end.

Even though they were in the right, by seizing and beating people everywhere like this, the clansmen would surely be dissatisfied. If the Old Matriarch and the masters of the West Mansion were unhappy...

"Hmm!"

Shen Ning took a sip of the hot brown sugar and jujube tea. "I am waiting for the Old Matriarch to come."

Her face was washed, but her hands were not.

She was just waiting to show them to that Old Matriarch.

"Keep an eye out. When the Old Matriarch arrives, open the main gate and let those wives and mistresses in as well."

Previously, she couldn't find a pretext to reform the school.

Now, the pillow had arrived just as she was feeling sleepy.

"Oh, and tell the kitchen to boil two pots of brown sugar and ginger tea. Once they are done crying and shouting, pour a bowl for each of them."

"Yes!"

Lady You hurriedly agreed.

She retreated cautiously and ordered the matrons to get to work.

The schoolhouse kitchen had long since been taken over by the people of the Ning Mansion, so she found the work easy to handle.

*Bang, bang!*

"Quick, the Old Matriarch and the Eldest Master are here."

As soon as the voices outside sounded, Lady You waved her hand to have the matrons open the gate.

The schoolhouse gate slowly opened, and the earth-shattering wailing rushed in all at once.

"Aunt, Brother She, please forgive me for not being able to welcome you properly due to my poor health."

Shen Ning set down her teacup and, remaining seated, performed a gesture of greeting to the incoming Grandmother Jia.

Around her, maids quickly set up several chairs and desks.

Jia She couldn't speak to Shen Ning, so he cupped his hands and headed straight for the middle courtyard, where the sounds of crying were still loud.

"Lady Shen, how cruel your heart is!"

Jia Dairu's wife, Lady Chen, rushed in. "Are you going to watch your son beat my grandson to death?"

She tried to rush inside, but just as Jia She entered, the middle courtyard gate 'banged' shut again.

"Oh my~"

Lady Chen sat down on the ground. "Heaven! This is to force our whole family to our deaths!"

*Slap!*

With a wave of her hand, Shen Ning sent a teacup crashing to the ground at Lady Chen's feet. "Those who want to cry, get out. If you want to know why, then shut your mouths and behave."

She didn't look at Lady Chen; she looked at the group of wives and mistresses who had rushed in, still wailing.

The wives and mistresses who had intended to rush to her side to cry and pull at her all fell silent at once.

They knew that the six sturdy matrons behind Shen Ning had each picked up a feather duster the moment they rushed in.

Were they going to beat them too?

"Aunt, please sit. Two sisters-in-law, please sit as well."

Shen Ning waved her hand, signaling the matrons to bring over more benches to place opposite her. "Those who aren't making a scene... you may all sit as well!"

"Niece-in-law, what has happened that you are in such a rage?"

Grandmother Jia was helped in by Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng, and she sat directly in the seat beside her.

"Old Matriarch, your niece-in-law almost died today."

Shen Ning held out her hand. "It is fortunate that Shopkeeper Chen was here; otherwise, you would be attending my funeral feast tonight."

"..."

"..."

Only the sound of Lady Chen's sobbing could be heard in the room.

"No, perhaps it wouldn't just be my funeral feast, but also my Rong'er's."

The crowd couldn't help but hold their breath.

Lady Chen even forgot to cry. "That was Zhen-ge's own doing; what does it have to do with my husband and Rui'er?"

At this moment, she couldn't help but suspect that Jia Rong had been accidentally beaten into a cripple.

"How is Rong-ge'er?"

Grandmother Jia signaled for the maids to help the old sister-in-law on the ground up. "Your health... what did the doctor say?"

"..."

Shen Ning looked at Lady Chen, who was being helped up, and didn't speak for a long time.

Her silence made it seem as if she were angry that Grandmother Jia was protecting Lady Chen.

Lady Chen felt uneasy. Just as she gathered the courage to use her status as an elder to question her again, Shen Ning spoke first, "This old lady should just stand."

What?

The crowd saw two matrons behind her rush out and pull away her chair.

"I suppose I have been too good-tempered all these years."

Shen Ning picked up the tea that the maids had served again. "To the point where some people have climbed onto my head, not knowing their own worth."

*Ah?*

The crowd widened their eyes, completely unable to understand how the matter between the Ning Mansion and Master Ru had led to their own children being beaten as well.

"You, you, you are talking nonsense."

Lady Chen wanted to pounce on her, but the two matrons who hadn't left yet held her back. "Second Sister-in-law, please say a word of justice," she cried to Grandmother Jia. "You know my Dairu! He has always been honest and diligent in this schoolhouse, he..."

"Diligent in lining his own pockets? Diligent in being irresponsible, taking leave whenever he wants? Or diligent in teaching the Jia family a bunch of *xiucai* and *juren*?"

Shen Ning swirled the teacup in her hand, looking at her coldly.