RPAGF Chapter 77 Xiren's Hatred
Chapter 77 Xiren's Hatred
On the other side of the screen, Shui Rong and Jia Yucun were having a pleasant conversation.
After several tests, Shui Rong realized that Jia Yucun was not a good-for-nothing like Jia Zheng, but rather someone with the talent to govern the country and bring peace to the people.
Shui Rong was overjoyed. He had originally planned to use the "phoenix egg" to establish a good relationship with the Jia family, but now he changed his mind and decided to abandon this approach and fully support Jia Yucun.
Jia Zheng, standing to the side, felt a pang of jealousy and scolded Jia Baoyu again. If it weren't for his lack of ambition and timidity, he wouldn't have been overshadowed by Jia Yucun after only exchanging a few words with the prince!
As for the rest of the Jia family, Jia She leisurely sipped his wine, his eyes glued to the stage, occasionally humming a few lines, completely ignoring what was happening there.
Jia Zhen was no better; he tapped his fingers on the table to keep time, his eyes only on the performance, and he couldn't help but cheer when the song reached its climax.
Jia Rong's small eyes darted around, seemingly looking at something.
Only Jia Lian would occasionally put down his wine cup and listen attentively to the conversation between Shui Rong and Jia Yucun.
Jia Yucun was also adept at currying favor. With just a few words, he flattered Shui Rong to the point of being completely obedient, and at the same time, he said a few good words for Jia Zheng, putting on an act of gratitude.
Jia Zheng was pleased and forgot his earlier sour taste. He began to wholeheartedly recommend Jia Yucun to Shui Rong, asking him to give him a chance.
This suited Shui Rong's wishes perfectly, so he readily agreed.
As the three were enjoying their drinks and conversation, a sharp slap suddenly came from behind the screen.
The humming stopped, the drinking put down their cups, and they all looked toward the screen.
The opera singers on stage stopped performing, and for a moment, the flower hall was completely silent.
The women were all taken aback. No one expected that Grandmother Jia, who usually doted on Jia Baoyu, would actually hit him. They were all stunned.
Wang Xifeng was the first to react, and hurriedly shouted towards the stage, "Stop singing! Everyone stop singing! Go down and eat something and rest!"
Jia Baoyu was stunned and stood there dumbfounded, covering his face.
Grandmother Jia glanced at the stunned second daughter of the Zhen family out of the corner of her eye and said coldly, "Put your hands down."
Seeing that Jia Baoyu did not move, Grandmother Jia yanked his hand away from his face, and "slap—" another crisp sound.
Everyone gasped in surprise.
The second daughter of the Zhen family finally came to her senses and quickly stood up to stop Grandmother Jia from raising her hand again, smiling as she tried to smooth things over: "Baoyu is still a child. He only said a few inappropriate things. Grandmother, there's no need to get so angry..."
Grandmother Jia, however, refused to let it go: "If we don't teach this wretched child a lesson today, things might get out of hand. Luckily, the Princess Consort is family; if she were an outsider, wouldn't we be needlessly offending her and bringing trouble upon the family? If we don't discipline her today, she might cause a terrible disaster later, and then it will be too late to regret it!" After saying this, she turned to the maid behind the second daughter of the Zhen family.
The maidservant bowed slightly, "I would trouble you, young lady, to slap this wretched child twenty times on behalf of the princess."
The maid dared not agree and quickly looked at the second daughter of the Zhen family.
The second daughter of the Zhen family understood that if she didn't deliver those twenty slaps, suspicion and resentment would inevitably remain between the two families. After thinking for a moment, she nodded.
The maid had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward. She first gave Jia Baoyu a slight bow, then slapped him with both hands. Although the force wasn't great, how could that pampered face withstand it? Before long, it swelled up, and blood seeped from the corners of its mouth.
The girls were so frightened that they lowered their heads and dared not look any longer.
Lin Daiyu also lowered her eyes, but she couldn't help but steal glances at him out of the corner of her eye.
Seeing that Jia Baoyu remained silent and did not cry out in pain or beg for mercy, she felt a sense of admiration and whispered, "Indeed, rumors cannot be believed entirely. Baoyu still has some manly spirit."
Xi Chun, standing beside him, chuckled. "He just hasn't realized it yet."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a cry of pain rang out, and Jia Baoyu covered his face and burst into tears, crying out in pain.
Lin Daiyu stared wide-eyed, her mouth slightly agape. Could this really be?!
"It's not over yet," someone muttered quietly.
Madam Wang, heartbroken for her son, immediately turned her gaze sharp as she searched around, trying to find the person.
Grandmother Jia heard this too and looked at the maid: "Keep hitting her, hit her twenty times."
The maid's hand hurt from hitting her, and she turned to look at the second daughter of the Zhen family.
The second daughter of the Zhen family stepped forward with a smile, helped Grandmother Jia sit down, and advised, "Grandmother, please give this junior some face and remember those slaps. If she makes a mistake again in the future, you can punish her double."
Wang Xifeng also chimed in from the side.
Although Grandmother Jia loved her grandson dearly, she still wouldn't admit it.
Madam Wang could no longer hold back and stepped forward, saying, "Grandma, Baoyu's injuries haven't fully healed yet. How can he withstand such a beating?" Then, she changed the subject, "Baoyu was originally a good boy, but it was all the maids around him who instigated him to do whatever they wanted, which led to the trouble he caused today."
Upon hearing this, Xiren's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked behind her—oh no, she was all alone.
Grandmother Jia understood what Lady Wang meant, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
The second daughter of the Zhen family would not speak up, since it involved the Jia family's internal affairs.
Lady Wang, a devout Buddhist, would never personally punish her servants, let alone those close to her son.
So, her gaze fell on Wang Xifeng, the tool.
Wang Xifeng was seething with hatred, but then she caught a glimpse of Grandmother Jia looking over, so she could only grit her teeth and say, "Madam is right, it's all the maids' fault for corrupting Baoyu. Let them take the rest of the slaps..."
"A few slaps are too lenient; it should be at least a few more than Baoyu's..."
Madam Wang suddenly turned her head, startling Aunt Zhao, who was speaking in a high-pitched voice, who hurriedly hid behind Madam Xing.
Madam Xing glanced at Madam Wang sideways, her eyes full of mockery.
Although this statement was meant to incite, it also made sense!
Wang Xifeng looked at Grandmother Jia, and seeing that Grandmother Jia remained silent, she directly asked Madam Wang, "Please, Madam, make a decision."
Madam Wang gave her a cold look and said indifferently, "Instigating the master is an even greater offense, forty."
What a devout Buddhist aunt!
Wang Xifeng cursed inwardly, then turned to Zhou Rui's wife and said, "Bring Xiren, Sheyue..." But as soon as she said it, she realized that only Xiren was there. She was slightly taken aback. She couldn't very well grab someone and beat them, could she?
She thought for a moment and then changed her words, saying, "As the Second Madam instructed, Xiren should be slapped forty times."
The second daughter of the Zhen family secretly clicked her tongue in amazement. The two aunts and nieces appeared to be on good terms, but their words were full of hidden barbs and calculations. It was truly a good show!
The Prince of Beijing's mansion is still the best; there's no trouble from in-laws, sisters-in-law, uncles, or sisters-in-law... Suddenly remembering Jia Baoyu's words, I couldn't help but sigh silently.
"Clap clap clap—"
The crisp slaps echoed one after another, particularly jarring in the flower hall.
Xi Ren's face quickly swelled up, and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. She knelt there quietly, neither flinching nor begging for mercy. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to fall.
However, the mocking looks from the maids and servants around her were more humiliating than the injuries on her face. An overwhelming hatred gradually rose in her chest.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Lady Wang's cold and indifferent face, and then saw Jia Baoyu covering his face and bowing his head. He couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. His vision gradually blurred, and stars danced before his eyes. In a daze, he heard a voice say "It's over," and then everything went black, and he collapsed.
Outside the screen, everyone already knew the whole story.
If it weren't for Shui Rong stopping him, Jia Zheng would have already ordered his men to "seize Baoyu and take the big stick."
Shui Rong secretly wished he could kill Jia Baoyu, but still generously said, "Children speak without thinking," and invited Jia Baoyu to visit the Prince's mansion in his spare time...