Capítulo 1637: Chapter 1612: Interrogation

Manbao immediately perked up and asked excitedly, “So much? Lord Wang is willing?”

Doctor Ning laughed and said, “Even if he’s unwilling, there’s no choice. Their Wang family clan leader personally presided over the division of the property. Wang Rong’s father is the eldest legitimate son, so according to the rules, their branch should originally receive seventy percent.”

“But Lord Wang has indeed lost out,” Doctor Ning smiled and said, “Master Wang from the main family has been absent for such a long time, and for over a decade now, Lord Wang has been managing the family affairs. The family industry has seen several growth spurts, yet it all benefits Lord Wang.”

Manbao responded, “There’s always gain where there is loss. How could Lord Wang have progressed smoothly in his official career without utilizing the family’s industry?”

Manbao was no longer a little girl; she’s been mingling in official circles. Although she’s still young and not aiming for promotions, being a woman she doesn’t have much socializing to do.

But she observes her colleagues in the palace, and their social interactions are quite significant.

Dining out is so expensive. A bit of salary only covers four or five trips to Primus Pavilion, not to mention supporting a family. More so, the costs of social interactions can’t rely solely on salary.

That’s why she doesn’t entirely believe that Wang Ji incurs a total loss.

“Moreover, if he hadn’t been greedy back then, how could he be losing today?” Manbao added, “He could have divided the property after his father’s death, and by then, whatever he managed could naturally be regarded as his own.”

But he didn’t divide the property, and instead lived with his widowed sister-in-law and two nephews. If he had taken care of them, it would be fine, but seeing how things have developed today, it’s clear there wasn’t much care given.

Manbao and Doctor Ning exchanged glances, secretly noting: Wealthy families and common families really aren’t any different; they still fight red-eyed over the division of property.

Indeed, people are all the same.

But mother once said, “A good man doesn’t eat divided family meals. Who hasn’t started from nothing, accumulating from one to have? As long as people are diligent and hold onto their allotted farmland, heaven grants a face, they won’t starve.”

If too greedy, heaven won’t approve and will take some things back.

So Manbao returned home and spoke to Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, saying, “Based on Lord Wang’s experiences, what my mother said is indeed correct.”

Bai Shan nodded and asked, “Did you go to report back to the Crown Prince?”

Manbao replied, “I went, but he’s busy right now and doesn’t have time to see me. I’ll go again in the evening.”

She rolled her eyes and asked with a sly smile, “If the Crown Prince asks what reward I want, can I say I want to manage my own official farmland?”

Bai Shan thought for a moment and said, “Not easy, right? Official farmland is managed by the Ministry of Revenue. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. If you ask him, you might be better off using Liu Huan’s influence to inquire with Minister Liu.”

Manbao seemed to be pondering.

Bai Shan glanced at her and knew she was worrying over her father’s affairs, saying, “Alright, I’ll make inquiries with Liu Huan for you, but keep in mind, it can only be done after the holiday.”

Manbao nodded repeatedly, “I can wait.”

The Crown Prince didn’t see Manbao until evening, and after inquiring about Wang Rong’s situation, waved her away.

Manbao couldn’t resist quietly probing with Eunuch Wu, “Is His Highness planning to employ Wang Rong?”

Eunuch Wu chuckled and whispered, “His Majesty has spoken. Since the Wang family already has a privilege quota, why not let Young Master Wang also attend Four-Gate Academy for a few years? Whether he can serve the court depends on whether he passes the grand examination and the Ministry of Personnel’s tests.”

Manbao mulled over this, realizing that since Wang Rong is going to use his father’s privilege quota, obviously, the cousin currently using his father’s quota cannot use it.

With this, Lord Wang’s loss from this courtroom punishment is immense, though what Wang Rong gains with most of his life might not be worth it.

Manbao said, “I feel like life is still more important.”

Eunuch Wu: … Nonsense, of course life is more important. Once life is gone, everything is gone.

Meanwhile, Wang Ji had just snapped out of the events from the property division two days ago. He had no choice, as today Mrs. Wang sent people to collect the items allocated to them from the storeroom.

No matter how much he couldn’t accept it in his heart, he had to smile and accept it outwardly.

Watching their people move things, Wang Ji turned and went to the Old Lady’s courtyard.

Old Lady Wang was reciting Buddha’s name, and upon hearing the commotion, did not open her eyes.

Wang Ji glanced at the waiting nanny, indicating for her to leave before he lifted his robe and knelt behind the Old Lady, bowing his head to admit his mistake, “Mother, your son knows he’s wrong. Can you stay and let your son fulfill his filial duty?”

The hand holding the prayer beads paused, and she opened her eyes looking at the Buddha statue above. After a long silence, she said, “Rong’er and Da’er are still young, and I haven’t reached the age where I can’t move. I’ll help them watch over things for a few years, and later when I can’t move, I naturally want to come back to you. As long as you don’t mind your mother when that time comes.”

“Mother, Rong’er still has the eldest sister-in-law there. You’ve enjoyed a peaceful retirement all these years. How can you worry yourself again?” Wang Ji advised, “Please stay here. Since Eldest Brother is gone, you should let your son fulfill his filial duty.”

How can it be that the son is here, yet the mother goes to live with the grandson?

Old Lady Wang was firm, “I haven’t returned to Taiyuan for many years. After all, that’s our root. The capital isn’t far from Taiyuan. If you miss me during festivals, you can go back to visit.”

“Mother!”

Old Lady Wang remained silent for a long time before turning to look at him, and finally couldn’t help but slap his face—not hard, but enough to startle Wang Ji into gaping.

Old Lady Wang lowered her trembling hand, gritting her teeth and whispered, “I’ve been back for three days, and you never came to tell me why you used the court rod on Rong’er.”

Wang Ji hastily said, “Mother, your son merely wanted to make a show. He was impeached for riding a horse trampling on green crops; it’s a serious crime. I thought if the family punished him first, then the court would let it be.”

“Putting aside whether this matter is true or false, let’s talk about punishment methods. There are so many, you could have made him kneel in the ancestral hall, hit his palms, even beat him or whip him. I could accept all, but this was a court rod—thirty rods. Do you not know it can kill a person?”

Old Lady Wang grabbed his collar, her voice angry, “He’s your elder brother’s only legitimate son. How can you be so cruel…”

“Mother!”

Old Lady Wang continued, “You usually show favoritism, but a nephew is not a son. Because the brothers depend on you, I have said nothing. So, the household is run by your wife, you transferred Da’er’s quota to Mian’er, saying Da’er’s studies are good enough that he can pass the exams by himself. For the sake of the big picture, it’s better the family has one more person in the Imperial Academy. I have acquiesced with one eye closed, even your sister-in-law said nothing, but how could you plot against Rong’er’s life?”

“I didn’t,” Wang Ji denied, “Mother, the punishment may seem harsh, but as long as he properly recuperates, there shouldn’t be any issue. Didn’t you hear the doctor at Baohe Medical Pavilion say that his condition worsened because he drank alcohol…”

Old Lady Wang couldn’t resist giving him a hard slap on the face, “Stop it. I haven’t questioned you about it yet—who allowed you to strip him and punish him? That’s a sentence reserved for criminals. He’s over twenty years old, stripped in front of servants; how could you let him face people in the future? You, you just wanted to drive him to death. You, you…”

Old Lady Wang clutched her chest, her eyes wide, falling straight backwards.

Wang Ji was scared out of his wits and immediately came forward to support her, “Mother, mother, please don’t scare your son. Someone, come quickly!”