Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Ningrong Street, Earl's Mansion.

After Jia Cong passed through the small door between the two mansions and entered the East Mansion, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The West Palace is really a place of trouble, with a lot of trouble happening every day. It is nowhere near as peaceful and tranquil as the East Palace.

He recalled the scene that had just happened on the Fengyu Corridor in the West Mansion. Wang Xifeng's shrewd and sharp words made him frown slightly.

Thinking of Ping'er's blushing face and her shy and embarrassed look, a vague feeling of pity arose in his heart.

The gentle and lovely Ping'er is usually Wang Xifeng's right-hand man, but once Wang Xifeng is in danger, she will send her away without hesitation in order to achieve her own goals. It is somewhat sad to think about this.

But Jia Cong's mind soon turned to Jia Lian's affairs. Although he had long expected that Emperor Jia Zhao would sooner or later get angry after Jia She's death, it was only a matter of time before something unexpected happened in Rongguo Mansion.

As expected, something happened in Rongguo Mansion today, but the severity was far less than Jia Cong had expected.

Although the Jinyiwei followed the emperor's oral order and held the arrest warrant, they arrested Jia Lian and put him in prison in a serious manner.

However, when Jia Cong communicated with Jinyiwei commander He Honghui face to face, he noticed that the Jinyiwei were behaving very restrained, as if all the guilt was focused on Jia Lian.

There was no mention of Jia She's guilt. When Jia Lian blurted out that he was traveling to Datong on Jia She's orders, the Jinyiwei even deliberately tried to stop him, which seemed like they were intentionally covering up for Jia She.

This made Jia Cong very confused at first, but after careful consideration, he realized that the Jinyiwei arrested Jia Lian in accordance with the imperial edict, and all their actions could only be authorized by the emperor.

Although he figured out some of the reasons, he couldn't comprehend all of them at once.
At this time, Jia Cong saw Baochai coming towards him.

Just now, Baochai and Xiangyun entered the East Palace. Jia Cong asked them to take shelter there temporarily, but Baochai was still worried because Aunt Xue was still in the West Palace.

She only sat in Yingchun's courtyard for a while before preparing to go back to the West Mansion to see what was going on.

Before he reached the small gate, he saw Jia Cong and asked, "Brother Cong, how is the West Mansion? Has anything else happened?"

Jia Cong replied, "My second brother was arrested by the Jinyiwei for the crime of reselling salt and iron, but the Jinyiwei only charged him and did not implicate anyone else. Now the Jinyiwei have all withdrawn.

It's okay for Sister Bao to go back now."

Baochai looked apologetic and said, "My brother told me about Brother Lian that day. I was afraid that what he said was not true, so I did not dare to mention it to Brother Cong. Otherwise, if you knew about it, I would have made plans in advance.

Perhaps Brother Lian will escape today's disaster."

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "Even if you told me at the beginning, my second brother had already done what he had done, and it's too late to undo what has been done.

I know Sister Bao is thoughtful and considerate. She didn't tell me at the beginning probably because she didn't want me to get involved. "

After hearing what Jia Cong said, Baochai's heart trembled slightly and tenderness arose in her heart. She didn't expect that Jia Cong was so smart and could guess her feelings at once. It was worth it for her to treat him like that.

He is not very close to me in daily life, but he can understand my thoughts and seems to know me very well, which is really rare.

Unfortunately, there is always some distance between him and me, and there will most likely be no relationship between us in the future. I think of my mother's daily words of dissuasion, and her occasional remarks about Baoyu's good points.

The excitement she had just felt when she met Jia Cong disappeared in an instant.

……

Baochai was born into a royal merchant family and was more worldly-wise than her sisters.

She remembered that after the eldest master of the mansion passed away, her aunt and mother had mentioned the issue of the succession of the mansion's title several times. Although it was not stated explicitly, Baochai was astute and could see the regret on her aunt's face.

Baochai thought that Jia Lian, as the eldest son of the family, would definitely lose the qualification to inherit the title now that he had committed a serious crime, and the Cong brothers had already been conferred titles.

There is an 80% chance that the title of Rongguo Mansion will go to the second son Baoyu. By then, my mother will probably be even more excited and will definitely force me to secure the golden marriage.

Thinking of this, Baochai felt extremely depressed. Her beautiful eyes could not help but wander over Jia Cong's face. She had a lot to say to him, but she didn't know how to start.

Under the warm autumn sun, Jia Cong saw that Baochai's eyes were as clear as autumn water, her eyebrows were delicate, her skin was as white as snow, and her lips were beautiful and soft, just like flowers blooming in April.

She wore a light pink round-necked gown with peony embroidery and a pleated skirt with gold flowers. Her hair was jet-black and her golden hairpins and step-shaking ornaments were shining brightly. She was truly a beautiful person.

Jia Cong was about to speak when he saw Qingwen rushing over with an envelope in her hand.

When he saw Jia Cong, he said, "Third Master, someone just delivered a letter to the gate of the mansion, saying that it is from an old friend of yours from Jinling. Please read the letter and come out to meet him."

Jia Cong opened the envelope and read it. His expression changed. He said goodbye to Baochai and left in a hurry.

Baochai looked back at Jia Cong's departing back and sighed slightly.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Fengjie's Courtyard.

Just now, the Jinyiwei came to arrest Jia Lian. While searching the yard for evidence of Jia Lian's crimes, they turned the entire yard upside down, smashed porcelain cups and bowls, kicked over tables, chairs and benches, and made a mess everywhere.

When Wang Xifeng returned to the courtyard and saw this desolate scene, she couldn't help but shed tears, and she was also left with lingering fears.

Jia Lian's accident caused Wang Xifeng to lose the honor that she cared most about in her life. She could not allow the situation to get worse. Now she placed her last hope on Jia Cong.

She recalled the scene on the Fengyu Corridor just now, when Jia Cong heard her say that she would give Ping'er to him as long as he helped Jia Lian.

The third brother Cong, who has always been mature beyond his years and has a thick face but a black heart, would actually have such an embarrassed and awkward expression. Wang Xifeng found it funny just thinking about it.

Moreover, when he went to help Ping'er who was kneeling on the ground, he was too embarrassed to even look at her. Wang Xifeng concluded in her heart that if Cong Lao San had not been aroused by her, she, Wang Xifeng, would have written her last name backwards.

Seeing that Ping'er's face was still flushed, Wang Xifeng remained silent and directed the maids in the yard to clean up the mess.

Ping'er had been following Wang Xifeng as the housekeeper for many years and had already developed remarkable talents. After being busy for a while, she had tidied up the yard as if she had never experienced such turmoil.

When Wang Xifeng saw that she had finished her work, she did not go into the inner room to bring her tea and water as she did in the past, but wanted to go back to her own room, as if she was deliberately avoiding her.

Wang Xifeng said to the door, "Ping'er, you little rascal, I'm not a cat that eats mice, why are you pretending to be a mouse with me? Come here and talk."

Ping'er waited until Wang Xifeng spoke before she reluctantly went into the inner room.

Wang Xifeng looked at Ping'er's pretty face, which was still blushing, and sneered, "After hearing what I said today, are you so happy that you are still pretending to be stupid in front of me?"

Ping'er raised her eyebrows, her eyes slightly red, and said, "Grandma, what are you talking about? When did I ever get so happy? What a boring thing to say.

Today, for no reason, in front of Master Cong San, she wanted to give me away. Even though I'm just a maid, I usually serve grandma attentively.

I'm not that lowly to let grandma treat me like an object and send me around. If this gets out, how can I face people in the future?"

Wang Xifeng said: "Brother Cong is so good-looking, there are so many maids in the mansion who want to get close to you, but they can't find a way, but you are unwilling to get up.

Well, if you don't want to, I'll go back to my third brother tomorrow."

When Ping'er heard this, her pretty face turned red. Without saying a word, she poured a cup of hot tea for Wang Xifeng, then sat aside and turned her head, not knowing what she was thinking.

Wang Xifeng snorted and said, "In the past few years, whenever I mentioned Brother Cong, you always said something nice about him, intentionally or unintentionally. Can't I see it from your little behavior?

Don't tell me you've never had any feelings for your third brother!"

Ping'er was shocked when she heard this. When Jia Cong was a child, he stayed in the East Courtyard and no one noticed him. But since he came to the West Mansion that year, they met more often in daily life.

Jia Cong became more and more outstanding every year. Not to mention his unparalleled proud appearance, his wealth of literary strategies, and his abilities in the outside world were unmatched by any of the eight branches of the Jia family in Shenjing.

Young girls have always been in love, so it would be a lie to say that she was not tempted. However, Ping'er was Wang Xifeng's maid who came with her as a dowry. According to common sense, when she reached her age, she would either be a companion or a concubine, so her fate had already been determined.

Wang Xifeng was a powerful person. Although Ping'er had some fantasies in her mind, she did not dare to take them seriously, let alone reveal a word.

But whenever Wang Xifeng talked about Jia Cong, she would always unconsciously say a few words to defend him. Although it was subtle, Wang Xifeng was a shrewd person so it was obvious to her.

Ping Er just refused to admit it and started to defend herself, "Madam, you are just making up stories to frame me. The Third Master was outstanding to begin with, and everyone praised him. I just said a few words, so how come I became a bad person..."

Wang Xifeng sighed, "Third brother is so proud and capable, he is born to be a romantic man, either he seduces women or women seduce him.

Even if you like him, there is nothing to be ashamed of. For us women, money and dignity are important in our life, but the most important thing is to find a man who can support you.

Your second master is doomed. Even if he saves his life this time, he can't escape the fate of exile, and we don't know how many years it will take.

I have to guard this yard well, but you are only sixteen this year, so there is no need to do so. Fortunately, I have kept a close eye on you in the past few years and didn’t let the Second Master touch you, otherwise I really couldn’t give you up…”

... Ping'er had been busy carrying the large copper basin in recent years, so she naturally understood what Wang Xifeng meant. When she heard her say it so bluntly, her pretty face turned red as fire.

Wang Xifeng said sarcastically, "In the past, you must have blamed me for being a jealous woman, guarding against you like a thief. Now you know my good points, otherwise you would have ended up like this!"

Ping Er looked ashamed and annoyed, saying, "I have never thought about that. Even if you instigated me, I would not want to do it. But now you are teasing me with these dirty words. I don't want to listen."

Wang Xifeng said, "Ping'er, I can guess what other people are thinking, but my third brother is so cunning that I can't guess what he is thinking.

I just thought about it carefully, even if he can't help you this time, I will give you to him."

Although Ping'er's heart was beating wildly, she couldn't help but feel a little sad, and said, "I'm so bad that grandma dislikes me so much and wants to kick me out of the house as soon as possible."

Wang Xifeng looked a little tired, she reached out and touched Ping'er's hair, saying, "Everyone has their own future, we can't fool around together forever.

I am just trying to accumulate some blessings for myself. I used to think that it was a very respectable thing for Brother Cong to earn a title at such a young age with his own ability, but now it seems to be a bad thing. "

After hearing what Wang Xifeng said, Ping'er's beautiful eyes flickered and she felt confused. Grandma said something about accumulating merits and being rewarded, and also said that it was not good for the Third Master to earn the title himself. What did these words mean?
……

Today, the Jinyiwei came to arrest Jia Lian. Wang Xifeng cried and made a fuss, racking her brains to think of ways to rescue Jia Lian. She was also suffering from the pain of losing her title and imperial edict. She was exhausted from the multiple torments.

She struggled to call Xing'er and asked him to keep an eye on Jia Lian outside. Then she leaned back on the kang to rest. Although she was exhausted, her mind was as chaotic as if a horse and a carriage were running, and she couldn't fall asleep.

Although Wang Xifeng had said a lot to Ping'er just now, some of the words were in her heart and she did not tell Ping'er.

She wanted to give Ping'er to Jia Cong, ostensibly to get Jia Cong to help rescue Jia Lian, but in fact her thoughts went beyond that.

Wang Xifeng has always been shrewd and calculating. Even ten men put together are no match for her.

Although her husband Jia Lian was facing a disaster, Wang Xifeng was panicked but not completely confused.

Just now in Rongqing Hall, from the words, actions and expressions of Lady Jia and Mrs. Wang, she immediately understood the situation that was about to happen.

Her husband's life was ruined and he would no longer have the chance to inherit the title of Rong. Even though the eldest branch of the family had defeated Jia Lian, there was still Jia Cong who could inherit the title. As long as the title remained in the eldest branch of the family, it would be beneficial to Wang Xifeng and her husband.

But Jia Cong's abilities are too outstanding, so Wang Xifeng said to Ping'er that Jia Cong earned the title by himself, which is not a good thing now.

Because according to common sense, Jia Cong could not confer a title on himself and at the same time occupy the hereditary title in his family.

Therefore, the title of Rongguo must fall to the second wife. By that time, her aunt, Lady Wang, will be in power, and the old lady will probably give her some concessions, and may even no longer oppose the marriage.

As long as Baochai becomes the daughter-in-law of the second branch of Rongguo Mansion, she will undoubtedly become the mistress of Rongguo Mansion.

By then, as a woman who had defeated her husband and lost her status, what would she be of any use in this Duke's mansion where the powerful would bully the weak? She would have to live a miserable life all her life.

With Wang Xifeng's strong character, she absolutely could not tolerate such a situation, not to mention that her husband Jia Lian's life or death was uncertain.

……

Therefore, in Wang Xifeng's long-term planning, Jia Cong, who was also the heir of a big family, became the key to her future foothold in Rongguo Mansion.

Wang Xifeng had calculated in her mind that even if the second branch inherited the title of Rong in the future, given the moral character of the second master and Baoyu, apart from the noble title, they would not have much to offer in other areas.

With Jia Cong's status and ability in officialdom, he is still an existence that is difficult to ignore and shake in the Jia family. The two sides are also brothers, making him Wang Xifeng's legitimate backer.

However, the relationship between the two brothers Jia Cong and Jia Lian was not that deep, so how could they get help from them in the future? Wang Xifeng gave Ping'er to Jia Cong to fill this gap.

Ping'er has been serving me since she was a child and is loyal to me. This kind of friendship is extraordinary.

Moreover, Ping'er is not only pretty and beautiful, a top-notch figure among the maids in Rongguo Mansion, but also has a gentle and kind temperament and is very popular. Such a woman is most likely to be loved by men.

Wang Xifeng was very confident in her maid. As long as she allowed Ping'er to enter Jia Cong's room, she would definitely win Jia Cong's favor and favor.

In the future, if his trusted maid becomes Jia Cong's soft and fragrant bed, and this pillow wind blows for years and months, how can his support not be secure?

Therefore, Wang Xifeng thought very clearly that it would be best if Jia Cong could do his best to save Jia Lian's life.

If Jia Lian ends up being unfortunate, Wang Xifeng will send Ping'er to Jia Cong's room, which will not only win her a good reputation as the eldest sister-in-law, but also make long-term plans for her second half of life.

……

Shenjing, Anfengfang.

Many of the capital's taverns, wine houses, and brothels gather here. Everyday the crowds are numerous, it is noisy day and night, and the people are of mixed character.

According to the address on the letter, Jia Cong went to an inconspicuous little restaurant and entered the private room on the second floor.

Then he saw someone waiting there. Jia Cong smiled and said, "I really didn't expect that Brother Liu would come all the way from Jinling to the capital. Why didn't he ask me to come out and have a gathering earlier?"

The person who had just sent someone to deliver a letter to the Jia Mansion and made an appointment with Jia Cong was Liu Hai, a captain of the Jinling Jinyiwei.

Liu Hai smiled bitterly and said, "If Lord Jia knew why I came to Shenjing, I'm afraid he wouldn't say that, and he might even avoid me.

I will not hide it from Lord Jia, I came to the capital this time on the orders of Captain Ge of Jinling to do business with the Jinyiwei Command Headquarters."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I guess Brother Liu must have come to the capital this time on the orders of Captain Ge to deliver the news about my father's involvement."

Liu Hai looked surprised, Jia Cong solemnly clasped his fists to Liu Hai and said, "Jia Cong thanks Brother Liu for his deep friendship and for sending a message to Jinling Xinchunhao in advance, which gave me a way forward."

Liu Hai was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Master Jia has always been resourceful, Liu Hai has learned from you many times, and it turns out that nothing can be hidden from you."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "This is not hard to guess. Brother Liu and I raided the private firearms workshop outside Jinling City that day, and we both saw the two Hongchun leather goods boxes with our own eyes.

I only have Brother Liu as my good friend among Jinling Jinyiwei, and no other acquaintances. The person who passed the information to me would be no one else except Brother Liu. Jia Cong will definitely remember this noble act in his heart."

Jia Cong's words were not just politeness, but he was truly grateful to Liu Hai.

It was Liu Hai who passed the information to him in advance that allowed Jia Cong to make plans in advance and display the stunning breech-loading rifle drawing in the firearms workshop, thereby increasing his weight in Emperor Jia Zhao's heart.

This made Emperor Jia Zhao pay utmost attention to his presence when dealing with key matters such as the marriage forcible marriage and Jia She's crimes. Otherwise, he might not sit safely in front of Liu Hai today.

Many things will be more difficult than they are now, and he may find himself in a more dangerous situation.

Therefore, Liu Hai's advance sending of the message played a very crucial role in Jia Cong's current situation.

Liu Hai said, "I came to Shenjing this time to do business. Since I am closely related to Lord Jia, I dare not visit him in person, so as not to cause trouble to him. That's why I sent a letter to make an appointment."

Jia Cong nodded after hearing this. Liu Hai was in the Jinyiwei, so he naturally knew very well how to take secret precautions. Such caution was necessary for both of them.

Liu Hai said, "Now that the matter in Shenjing is settled, I will return to Jinling today. I have been in frequent contact with the Commander He these days, and I happened to hear some news that may be of some use to Lord Jia."

Jia Cong's eyes lit up. Today, he ordered He Honghui to arrest Jia Lian. His words and actions were unusual. Jia Cong could guess some of his intentions, but he could not see the whole picture.

Perhaps the information Liu Hai brought would allow him to see the full truth of the matter.

Liu Hai said, "Yesterday, the Jinyiwei received an oral order from the palace to bring your brother to justice. At that time, I went to the Commandery Office to complete the formalities and bid farewell to Lord He.

I had just arrived at the gate of Lord He's official residence when the clerk happened to consult Lord He about the arrest document. Lord He seemed to be revising the document and also told the clerk that Jia She was dead and the crime was committed by his son Jia Lian.

He said some more words after that, but someone happened to pass by, so I didn't dare to listen anymore and went in to say goodbye to Lord He.

I am about to leave Beijing today, and I thought this news would be of some use to Lord Jia, so I came here to tell you."

After hearing what Liu Hai said, Jia Cong was shocked.

Jia She is dead, and the blame lies with his son Jia Lian.

Although it was just a few simple words, it sounded like a loud bell to Jia Cong's ears. He thought of He Honghui's strange behavior today, and what Jia Cong had not figured out before suddenly became clear to him.

The Jinyiwei must have received instructions from Emperor Jiazhao, for He Honghui would not have said such words to the clerk when revising the arrest document.

After just a brief thought, Jia Cong understood Emperor Jia Zhao's intention.

In order to make his decision of granting marriage due to his father's death more impeccable and legitimate, the emperor had a reasonable explanation both internally to the emperor emeritus and externally to public opinion at home and abroad.

This is how Jia She's posthumous crimes were concealed, but the emperor would not easily let go of what Jia She had done, so Jia Lian, who was involved, became a scapegoat.

And given Jia Cong's understanding of Emperor Jia Zhao's character, the suppression of Rongguo Mansion caused by Jia She's crime will never simply end with Jia Lian's imprisonment. (End of this chapter)