On the fourth day of the fifth lunar month, Mrs. Wang was sleeping on the couch in the inner room, and Jin Chu'er sat next to her and beat her legs, also in a trance.

Jia Baoyu gently walked up to Jin Chu'er and took off the pendant on her ear, Jin Chu'er hurriedly opened her eyes and smiled when she saw that it was Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu smiled quietly: "Just sleepy? ”

Jin Chu'er pursed her lips and smiled, waved his hand to order him out, still closed his eyes, Baoyu saw this, he was a little reluctant, quietly probed Mrs. Wang to close her eyes, and took out the Xiangxue Runjin Dan in her purse, and gave it to Jin Chu'er.

Jin Chu'er didn't open her eyes, she just pouted.

Jia Baoyu came up and took her hand, and said with a quiet smile: "I'll ask my wife for you tomorrow, let's be together." ”

Jin Chu'er just smiled and didn't answer, and Jia Baoyu said again: "Otherwise, I'll ask you when my wife wakes up." ”

Jin Chu'er opened her eyes, pushed Baoyu, and said with a smile: "What are you busy with, 'The golden hairpin fell into the well, and what has yours is only yours', don't you even understand this sentence?" I'll tell you a Qiao Zong'er, you go to the east courtyard to take Brother Huan'er and Caiyun. ”

Jia Baoyu smiled: "It's up to him to go, I only guard you." ”

I saw Mrs. Wang turn over, and Zhao Jin Chu'er slapped her face, pointed and scolded: "As a little prostitute, good masters, you have been taught badly." ”

When Jia Baoyu saw Mrs. Wang get up, she hurriedly ran away.

Half of Jin Chu'er's face was hot, and she didn't dare to speak.

Mrs. Wang was still angry, no matter how Jin Chu'er kowtowed and cried, she insisted on driving Jin Chu'er out.

Two days after Jin Chu'er returned home, she felt that she had no face to live, so she threw herself into the well.

After Xue Baochai learned from the attacker that Jin Chuan had thrown himself into the well, he came to Mrs. Wang's place, and saw that everyone in the room was kneeling there, Mrs. Wang's face was ugly, and she hurriedly gave a salute and sat quietly aside.

After Mrs. Wang waved her hand to let the maids out, she asked, "Where did you come from?" ”

"From the garden." Xue Baochai said in a low voice, a few days ago, he got a hint from the gift of the concubine, and when he saw that the marriage had been settled, he was a little settled in his heart, and he wanted to please Mrs. Wang, the future mother-in-law.

"Can you see your brother Bao?" Mrs. Wang asked, she had just heard a rumor in the house from a few maids, saying that Baoyu had insulted Jin Chu'er, causing Jin Chu'er to throw herself into a well, and she hated her in her heart, and she didn't know which lowly person was slandering Baoyu.

"I just met him before I came, he went out, and now I don't know where he went?" Xue Baochai replied, wanting to judge from Mrs. Wang's expression whether the matter between Baoyu and Jin Chu'er was true.

Mrs. Wang asked with a worried face: "Have you heard a strange thing, Jin Chu'er's girl suddenly threw herself into a well and died?" ”

Although he had already inquired about the ins and outs of the matter, Xue Baochai still pretended not to know and replied: "This is also strange, why did you throw yourself into the well?" ”

"A few days ago she broke one of my things, and I was angry, so I hit her a few times and threw her out. I only said that I would dry her for two days, and then I told her to come back, but she was so angry that she threw herself into the well and died, and in this way, it became my sin. Mrs. Wang said.

Although in her eyes, it was Jin Chu'er who seduced Baoyu, but at this time, someone in the mansion slandered Baoyu's reputation, and she couldn't tell the events of the day no matter what.

Xue Baochai persuaded: "Aunt is a philanthropic person, of course you think so, but in my opinion, she is not a well of anger, most of them are playing by the well, and she stumbles and falls." These girls are used to being restrained in the house, and when they go out, they naturally want to go around to play and shop, and something happens accidentally. Besides, how can she be so angry with her aunt as a maid, even if she is angry, she is just a foolish person, and it is not worth a pity. ”

Mrs. Wang nodded approvingly: "You can still see it, but having said that, it makes me feel uneasy." ”

"Aunt doesn't have to be like this, it's better to reward her with a few taels of silver, first, to ask for peace of mind, and second, to fulfill the love of the master and servant." Xue Baochai suggested, judging in his heart that most of the rumors in the house were true, and his impression of Baoyu had declined a little.

Mrs. Wang nodded and said, "I have already rewarded her mother with fifty taels of silver just now, and I thought that I would take two more sets of your sisters' new clothes for her to wrap in, but it happened that there were no new clothes, so I asked the tailor to make two sets for her." ”

"It's still my aunt's kindness." Xue Baochai praised.

"If it's another girl, it's over if I reward her with a few taels of silver, but although Jin Chu'er is a girl, she is almost the same as my daughter in front of me."

Xue Baochai listened and hurriedly said: "Auntie, why should I ask the tailor to make a new one, it just so happened that I made two sets of them before, wouldn't it be convenient to give them to her directly, besides, when she was alive, she also wore my old clothes, and her body size was just opposite." ”

Mrs. Wang asked with some surprise, "You don't taboo this?" ”

"Auntie, don't worry, I never care about this." Xue Baochai said, then got up and went back to get the clothes, and Mrs. Wang hurriedly asked the two little maids to follow Baochai to get the clothes.

After Jia Baoyu knew that Jin Chu'er committed suicide by throwing herself into a well, she was very sad, and it happened that Jia Yu Village arrived, and Jia Zheng ordered Baoyu to go to meet the guests.

Jia Baoyu was sad about himself, and after visiting Jia Yucun, he stood there without speaking.

Jia Zheng saw that he was not as awake as before, and was about to scold him angrily, when he suddenly heard someone report that someone from the Zhongshun Palace's palace wanted to see him.

Although Jia Zheng wondered in his heart, he usually did not communicate with the Zhongshun Palace, why did he send someone today?

But he didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly took Shi Yueqi, the head of the Zhongshun Palace, to the hall to offer tea.

Without waiting for Jia Zheng to speak, Yue Qi said: "The official is here, not to visit without authorization, but to come on the orders of the prince!" ”

Jia Zheng hurriedly replied: "I don't know what the prince has to say?" ”

"There is one thing to ask for, and please ask the boss to look at the face of the prince and make the decision for the lower officials, if it can be done, not only the prince will accept the love of the lord, but the lower officials will also be grateful."

When Jia Zheng heard Yue Qi's words, he was a little apprehensive, and he hurriedly got up and said with a smile: "Please also ask your lord to make it clear what the prince has to do, and the students will obey it." ”

Yue Qi sneered: "You don't have to undertake it, just ask the adults a word, there is a Xiaodan named Qi Guan in our mansion, who has always stayed in the mansion well, but now he hasn't gone back for three or five days, and the lower officials are looking for him everywhere, and he can't find his way." ”

"Fortunately, the official visited everywhere, and eight out of ten people in the city said that he had a very good relationship with Ling Lang of the jade recently. The Zun Mansion is no better than other families, and we don't dare to trespass to ask for it, so we enlighten the prince. ”

"The prince said: 'If it is another play, a hundred will be enough, but this Qi official replied randomly, cautious and honest, which is very much in line with my old man's heart, and he actually decided that there is no shortage of this person.'" Therefore, I begged the old man to send an edict to Linglang, please put the Qi official back, one can comfort the prince and plead, and the other can also save the lower official from the pain of hard work. ”

When Jia Zheng heard this, he was shocked and angry, and immediately called Baoyu.

As soon as he saw Baoyu, Jia Zheng asked angrily: "Damn the evil obstacle, it's just that you don't study at home, and you did such a lawless thing, that Qiguan is the person who is loyal to the prince, what kind of mustard are you, you actually lured him out for no reason, and now it is a disaster for me." ”

Baoyu was startled, and hurriedly replied: "My son really doesn't know about this, and my son doesn't know what the word 'Qi Guan' is, so how can he tease him!" As he spoke, he began to cry.

Without waiting for Jia Zheng to continue to speak, Yue Qi sneered: "Childe doesn't have to hide it, or hide at home, or know his whereabouts, if you say it earlier, we will suffer less hardship, and we will miss the virtue of Childe even more!" ”

Jia Baoyu didn't even know: "I'm afraid it's a false rumor, and I haven't seen it." ”

Yue Qi glanced at Baoyu and said, "There is evidence, why deny it?" If you say it in front of the boss, won't the son suffer? I don't know this person, how did the red sweat towel get to the waist of the son? ”

When Jia Baoyu heard this, his soul was shocked, and he thought to himself: "How did he know this? Since he even knew about such a confidential matter, and he could not hide anything else, it was better to send him away, lest he say anything else. ”

Then he said: "Since the adults know his details, how can they not even know such a big thing as buying a house for him?" I heard that he now has a red sandalwood fort in the eastern suburbs, twenty miles away from the city, and he has a few acres of fields and a few houses there, and it is not known where he is. ”

Yue Qi smiled when he heard this: "Since Gongzi said so, it must be there, I'll go and look for it, if I have it, if not, I have to come and ask for advice." With that, he hurried away.

Jia Zheng was stunned with anger, and while sending Yue Qi away, he turned around and ordered Baoyu not to move.

After Jia Zheng sent Yue Qi, he turned around, and saw Jia Huan running around with a few small guys, and he was angry, so he hurriedly drank Jia Huan to stop, and said angrily: "What are you running for?" ”

When Jia Huan saw Jia Zheng, he was bluffing, and when he saw his anger, he hurriedly replied: "I didn't run before, just because I passed by the well, and a girl was drowned in the well. ”

Jia Zheng was shocked when he heard this, and asked, "Good and decent, who is going to jump into the well?" As he spoke, he ordered someone to call Jia Lian, Laixing and a few others to come over.

Jia Huan hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Jia Zheng's robe, knelt down close to his knees and said, "Father don't be angry, except for the people in the wife's room, others don't know about this matter at all." I heard my mother say that Brother Baoyu was in his wife's house the day before yesterday, and he dragged his wife's girl, Jin Chu'er, to rape him and beat him, and Jin Chu'er died in anger. ”

Before he finished speaking, Jia Zheng's face was as angry as gold paper, and he shouted: "Hurry up and bring Baoyu!" ”

As he spoke, he walked to the study and said angrily: "If someone persuades me today, I will hand over this crown and furniture to him and Baoyu, lest I be a sinner, and I will find a clean place to cut off, so as not to insult my ancestors and give birth to a rebellious son." ”

When the guests and servants saw Jia Zheng's appearance, they knew that it was because of Baoyu, and they all bit their tongues and hurriedly withdrew.

Jia Zheng was furious, sat straight on the chair, his face was full of tears, and shouted angrily: "Take Baoyu, close all the doors, if anyone dares to pass the message, kill immediately!" ”

The little guys had to agree in unison to get Jia Baoyu.

Since Jia Baoyu heard Jia Zheng tell him not to move, he knew how fierce he was, and he was busy sending a message to the old lady, and the old man wanted to beat him.

Jia Zheng saw Baoyu follow the little maid in, and he didn't ask him to wander around, give away private things, neglect his studies at home, and insult his mother and maid, but only drank the order: gagged his mouth, and he was really beaten to death.

The little guys didn't dare to disobey, so they had to press Baoyu on the stool, lift the big board and beat it more than ten times.

Seeing this, Jia Zheng was furious, grabbed it himself, gritted his teeth and covered it thirty or forty times.

Seeing that Baoyu was beaten like this, the guests hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him, but Jia Zheng refused and insisted on beating Baoyu to death.

When Mrs. Wang arrived, crying and begging for persuasion, Jia Zheng thought of the absurd things in the mansion recently, and suddenly added fuel to the fire, and said angrily: "You people have spoiled him every day, and you people have come to persuade him at this step, and when he kills the king and kills his father tomorrow, you will not be able to persuade him, it is better to strangle him to death today to prevent future troubles!" ”

As he spoke, he was going to find a rope to strangle Baoyu.

Mrs. Wang hugged Baoyu and cried: "If you want to strangle him, first strangle me with a rope, and then strangle him, we don't dare to complain, we still have someone to rely on in the Yin Division!" ”

was making trouble, Shi Taijun arrived, and saw Baoyu's face white and weak, and his body was covered with blood, so he said anxiously and angrily: "Beat me to death first, and then kill him, wouldn't it be clean!" ”

When Jia Zheng heard this, he was immediately a little disheartened: "That's it, that's it!" I'm going to be mad today! ”

Jia Mu said angrily: "I guess you are also tired of our girls, why don't we leave you early, everyone is clean." ”

As he spoke, he ordered someone to go to see the sedan horse: "I, your wife, and Baoyu will go back to Nanjing immediately!" The subordinate had no choice but to agree.

Jia Zheng hurriedly kowtowed and cried: "Mother said so, Jia Zheng has no place to stand. ”

Jia Mu sneered: "It's clear that you made me have no place to stand, but you talked about you, we went back, and your heart was clean." ”

While saying, while ordering someone to take care of the luggage car, Jia Zheng begged for a confession.

Jia's mother was worried about Baoyu, so she no longer cared about Jia Zheng, who was kneeling, and hurriedly ordered someone to carry Baoyu out and send her to her room.

Seeing this, Jia Zheng was even more disheartened, both sad for himself and worried about the future of Jia Fu.

As soon as Lu Jing returned home from the Hanlin Academy, Lu Zheng came to report the news of Daojia Mansion.

"Jiafu is very lively today, right?" Lu Jing returned to the outer study and asked after sitting down.

Lu Zheng nodded and said: "Lord is really a god, today the Jia family can be described as a wave of unsettled waves." ”

Since meeting Queen Zhongshun that day, Lu Jing expected that the Jia family would inevitably face a dilemma at home and abroad, and then asked about the specific situation.

Lu Zheng hurriedly said: "Today, the news that the maid Jin Chu'er next to Mrs. Wang threw herself into the well first came out of Jiafu, and there was also a buzz in Jiafu, saying that Jia Baoyu had molested Jin Chu'er, and Jin Chu'er was unwilling to be humiliated, so she committed suicide by throwing herself into the well. ”

"When was this Jin Chuan thrown into the well, and when was it salvaged?" Lu Jing frowned and said, the news of the Jia family spread too quickly, and it was close to the truth, for the sake of Baoyu's reputation, Mrs. Wang would definitely not tell this matter, someone should be adding fuel to the fire.

"The little ones don't know very well, but I heard that it was a well thrown in the middle of the night, and it was fished up at the end of the day, and when I heard that when it was fished up, the corpses were swollen." Lu Zheng replied.

"When did the news of Baoyu's flirtation with Jin Chu'er spread?" Lu Jing continued to ask.

"When the little one first heard about this, he was also surprised, so he sent someone to ask No. 2, according to her, there were rumors in Jiafu, and now it is not only Jiafu, but also in Beijing."

"Can you find out who is passing it on?" Lu Jing asked, guessing in his heart that it should be done by King Zhongshun.

Lu Zheng shook his head and said, "I haven't found the small one, but it's certain that Jia Lian, Jia Zhen, and Mrs. Wang have problems around them." ”

"Jin Chu'er's death was an accident?" Lu Jing continued to ask.

"It should have been an accident, and the little one didn't find any signs of murder." Lu Zheng replied cautiously.

Lu Jing asked for specific details again, and roughly judged the truth of the matter, Jin Chu'er's throwing into the well should have nothing to do with King Zhongshun, but the rumors about Jia Baoyu in Jiafu and Jingzhong must have been behind him.

Although Jin Chu'er's throwing into the well is related to the Jia family, it will not punish Mrs. Wang and Jia Baoyu, even if the government comes forward, it will only symbolically punish the Jia family with some money.

However, Baoyu's behavior is really contemptible, after teasing Jin Chu'er was discovered by Mrs. Wang, he ran away, leaving Jin Chu'er to bear it alone, and he didn't comfort him, but he shed a few tears when he died.

If he really had a responsibility, he directly begged Mrs. Wang to receive Jin Chu'er into the room, how could he cause such a big incident.

Lu Zheng saw that the uncle no longer asked about it, so he talked about the second thing: "Not long after the news of Jin Chu'er's throw into the well came out, the Changshi of the Zhongshun Palace's Mansion came to the door and asked about the whereabouts of Qiguan, at first Jia Baoyu did not admit it, and then he was frightened by the Changshi, and Jia Baoyu recruited everything. ”

"Is there anything unusual about Officer Qi's behavior?" Lu Jing continued to ask, wanting to know the role of Qi Guan in it.

Qi Guan is the person given by the emperor to King Zhongshun, Baoyu helped Qi Guan escape, and it is not an exaggeration to really investigate it is to cut off his head, but King Zhongshun is just testing Jia Baoyu, and he should not delve into it.

"Indeed, as the uncle expected, this Qi official did not really escape, and his identity was not simple, after Qi Guan fled to that courtyard, Wu Ze found that there were many people in and out of the courtyard, for fear of being discovered, Wu Ze did not dare to get too close." Lu Zheng said.

"In this case, there is no need to investigate Officer Qi in the future!" Lu Jing said that since the identity of Qi Guan is not simple, he only needs to be careful, and he will not have anything to do with him anyway.

"After the chief of the Zhongshun Palace, Shi left, did Jia Zheng beat Jia Baoyu?"

Lu Zheng nodded yes, and then reported Jia Zheng's whipping of Jia Baoyu to Lu Jing.

"It seems that Jia Zheng is not confused, but it is a pity that he was destroyed by Shi Taijun and several women." Lu Jing sighed.

Jia Baoyu made such a big mistake, although it was originally a trap set by the king of Zhongshun, but the Jia family should also say something, not to mention punishing Jia Baoyu, and then take Jia Baoyu to the Zhongshun palace to apologize, and should also send a weighty person to personally come to the door to make amends, but unfortunately Jia Zheng is only half completed, so it will not be done.

"There is no need to investigate this matter again, let our people remain silent during this time." Lu Jing explained that now that King Zhongshun is testing the Jia family, it is not appropriate for him to get involved.

"The little one knows." Lu Zheng said, and then reported some news from Beijing, and then withdrew.