Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, Zhen'an Prefecture.

At 3:45 AM, the huge grievance drum at the yamen gate was struck with a thunderous roar, the sound spreading rapidly like ripples, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Upon hearing the drumbeat, the three shifts of yamen runners rushed into the yamen hall in a flurry of footsteps, each taking their assigned positions to establish authority.

The Prefect of Zhen'an, Hong Wenxuan, and the Vice Prefect, Liu Binfang, had only been in their official residences for a short time when they were startled by the rumbling drumbeats and got up to rush to the yamen.

The drums at the gates of government offices were mostly just for show, and the probability of them being struck was extremely low.

The only drum at the entrance of the government office, commonly known as the "grievance drum" by the people, is frequently struck by those who file complaints.

Whenever the grievance drum sounds, the prefect and relevant officials must go to court to hear the case; this is an ironclad rule of the prefectural government.

Shortly after Hong Wenxuan and Liu Binfang entered the hall, a bailiff brought in an elderly man in his fifties. He looked distressed, dressed in simple clothes, and appeared to be a poor man.

The capital city is located under the emperor's nose, with strict governance and rigorous laws. Most of the complaints from ordinary people are about the oppression of the good and honest, and cases involving life and death are not common.

When Hong Wenxuan and Liu Binfang first saw the old man who filed the complaint, he seemed insignificant and they didn't pay much attention to him, assuming that the complaint was just a common, trivial case.

Unexpectedly, the man submitted his complaint, pleading his innocence, which greatly surprised Wen Xuan and Liu Binfang.

The old man's accusation not only involved the harming of innocent people and driving them to death, but also involved a suspect who was a servant of the Jia family in Rongguo.

Hong Wenxuan and Liu Binfang were both seasoned officials, and the capital was full of nobles and powerful families. Any major case involving these families was a dangerous and difficult matter.

Zhang Shouan, the former prefect of Zhen'an Prefecture, was involved in the major case in Ningguo Prefecture. He not only lost his post but was eventually convicted and executed.

After Zhang Shou'an was executed, Hong Wenxuan took over his post. Liu Binfang was Zhang Shou'an's subordinate at the time, and both of them were beneficiaries and witnesses of this event.

The current lawsuit involving a murder case once again involves the Ning and Rong Jia families. It is the same case of a commoner filing a lawsuit, and even involves a servant of a wealthy family.

This incident made Prefect Hong Wenxuan and Vice Prefect Liu Binfang wary. After receiving the old man's complaint, they did not rush to issue a judgment.

Instead, the authorities said that the government needed time to review the case and apprehend the suspect, and that the trial could not be held until tomorrow. They asked the elderly man who filed the complaint to return home first and wait for the government to summon him.

……

After the old man who filed the complaint left the government office, Hong Wenxuan and Liu Binfang immediately went into the inner hall to discuss the matter.

Hong Wenxuan was a second-class Jinshi in the fourth year of the Jiazhao era. Because of his low ranking, he did not enter the Hanlin Academy, but instead entered officialdom as a county magistrate in a remote county.

After more than ten years of honing his skills in officialdom, he was promoted gradually due to his practical abilities in governance. Four years ago, he was recommended by Chen Mo, the Minister of Personnel, and was transferred to the position of Prefect of Dezhou.

Two years ago, Prefect Zhang Shouan was convicted and executed. By chance, Hong Wenxuan was transferred to Zhen'an Prefect, and his career reached its peak in more than ten years.

He was not yet forty, in the prime of his life, with a long career ahead of him, so he was not as eager for quick success as Zhang Shou'an.

She is cautious and meticulous in her daily affairs. Although she has her own principles, she is also worldly and shrewd. She also has a certain tacit understanding with Liu Binfang, the prefect.

Hong Wenxuan asked, "Bingwen, today's accusation involves the Jia family of Rongguo. Can you see any clues about it?"

Liu Binfang said, "I have carefully examined the complaint filed by the complainant. Although the language is colloquial, the facts are clear, the logic is sound, and there are no flaws."

The accuser was a poor man from another place. Normally, unless a close relative had died unjustly and he was filled with indignation, he would never risk danger to sue a noble family or a powerful clan.

Today, I observed the old man who filed the complaint. He was in tears and seemed to be in unbearable pain. Based on my many years of experience in handling affairs, I have no doubt about this matter.

I have already instructed Constable Xu to investigate this matter on the ship in Liuyang River. Once such a thing happens, there must be quite a few people who know about it, so it will not be difficult to find out.

Based on what we've seen so far, this case is largely without difficulty; however, the timing of the complaint is quite suspicious.

……

Hong Wenxuan pondered for a moment and said, "What Bingwen said is strange. Could it be that he only filed a lawsuit against the government two months after the incident?"

Liu Binfang replied, "What you say is absolutely right. According to the whistleblower Chen Fushou, his daughter was forced by the suspect and had nowhere to go, so she fell into the water and drowned."

He wanted to report the matter to the authorities immediately, but was threatened by the suspect Qin Yong, who wanted to settle the matter privately for twenty taels of silver, which Chen Fushou resolutely refused.

Fearing legal trouble, Qin Yong used the name of the Rongguo Jia family to coerce him and even conspired with others to beat him severely.

Chen Fushou was an ignorant outsider who feared he would lose his life, so he fled the capital overnight and temporarily stayed in Tongxian, fifty miles away.

This shows that Chen Fushou was a cowardly person. Even though his daughter died unjustly, he did not dare to show his courage and would only retreat and escape temporarily.

He remained confined in Tongxian for two months without making any move, which shows that he was truly frightened by Qin Yong.

Why did he suddenly become so bold, returning to the capital and resolutely suing the Jia family of Rongguo, as if he had gained some kind of support?

When questioned in court, Chen Fushou said he was from out of town. I asked him a few more questions, and he said he had no relatives or friends in the capital and no roots there.

He endured humiliation and cowardice back then, fleeing the capital overnight, but now he is behaving completely out of character, which makes people suspicious.

Based on my private deduction, Chen Fushou's actions before and after were drastically different, which must be due to external instigation and assistance.

Hong Wenxuan's eyes lit up slightly, and he said, "Bingwen means that Chen Fushou dared to sue the Rongguo Mansion because he was instigated and supported by outsiders."

Could it be that someone is secretly making things difficult for the Rongguo Mansion, and is trying to stir up trouble through Chen Fushou?

Liu Binfang said, "I cannot be sure whether the person behind the scenes is making things difficult for the Jia family."

However, based on the charges in the indictment and Chen Fushou's words and actions, the case must be conclusive. Since it has been reported to Zhen'an Prefecture, the matter cannot be covered up.

The Zhen'an Prefecture's handling of cases is its legal duty; the intentions of those behind the scenes are not important.

Hong Wenxuan said, "According to the indictment, the suspect Qin Yong is a servant of the East Courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion, and the East Courtyard is occupied by Jia Zheng, an official of the Ministry of Works."

He was the second son of the Dowager Lady Rongguo and the second uncle of Jia Cong, the Earl of Weiyuan. It was rumored in the capital that Jia Cong's birth mother was not well-known and that he was disliked by his father from a young age.

Jia Zheng, however, had a keen eye for talent and had taken a liking to this nephew since he was a child. He even brought him to his second wife's house to raise. Although they were uncle and nephew in name, their relationship was like that of father and son.

Jia Cong achieved early success and became famous throughout the land. He is also a key minister of the current emperor. If we were to punish Jia Zheng's lackeys, wouldn't that offend Jia Cong?

Liu Binfang's lips curled slightly as he said, "My lord, I have met Jia Cong several times and know a little about his character."

Although he came from a prominent family, he was quite different from ordinary nobles. He was a disciple of the Imperial Academy and a Hanlin Academician of the current dynasty, and he valued his reputation and honor.

The case of Chen Fushou has come to the public eye and can no longer be concealed. We will go to his door to arrest him and investigate the case.

Judging by his temperament, he would certainly not be unhappy or harbor resentment towards Zhen'an Prefecture. On the contrary, he would hope that the government would intervene to demonstrate that the Jia family is fair and impartial.

After all, the one who committed the crime was a servant of the Jia family, not the master of the Jia family. Even if his crime is proven, it can only be said that the servant was immoral. Such things are common in the Jia family.

If the authorities were to punish them sooner, it would actually make the Jia family appear wise and magnanimous, showing that they were taking remedial measures and were strict in managing their household. The adults don't need to worry about this.

I knew him somewhat from the past. Before the government arrested someone, I would speak to him on their behalf, just to maintain proper relations with officials.

……

Rongguo Mansion.

Yu Chuan walked along the covered walkway toward Rongqing Hall. When she reached the fork in the road, she saw Yuanyang coming toward her, holding an account book in her hand and followed by two old women carrying a small box.

Yu Chuan asked, "What are you busy with, Sister Yuanyang?"

Yuanyang laughed and said, "The monthly allowance was distributed today. I just came back from the Second Mistress's courtyard. There are many people in the Old Madam's room, and many of them only receive half a string or a string of cash as a monthly allowance."

These copper coins are incredibly heavy; I had someone help carry them here. Where is your wife? Why are you wandering around here all by yourself?

Yu Chuan smiled and said, "Madam is here too. She was just about to pay her respects to the old lady, but she didn't know if the old lady had gotten up yet. She is busy right now, so she came to check on her first."

"Madam is in Master Bao's room, waiting for me to go and give you an answer before she comes over."

Yuanyang was slightly taken aback when she heard this. It was already past Chenshi (7-9 AM), how could the old lady still not have gotten up?

The second wife wouldn't be so confused; she even eagerly sent Yuchuan to check the commotion, which sounded rather strange.

He said, "The old lady is getting on in years and got up at the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM). When I came out to run some errands, I ran into the second mistress, and she is talking to the old lady now."

The two walked and talked, and just as they reached the entrance of Rongqing Hall, they encountered Wang Xifeng coming out.

Yuanyang smiled and said, "It's still early, Second Madam, why don't you sit a little longer?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Today is the distribution of monthly allowances in the manor. There are many things to do in my courtyard. I'm afraid Wu'er and Ping'er will be overwhelmed. You should go back and check on things as soon as possible."

She glanced at Yu Chuan standing to the side. Yu Chuan had fair skin, delicate features, and was so tender she looked like she could be pinched to release moisture. She secretly praised her, thinking that this little girl was growing more and more beautiful.

No wonder my aunt only takes her with her when she goes in and out. Not only is she outstandingly beautiful, but she is also a first-class maid, which complements my aunt's dignity.

"What time is it now? Aunt is still acting like the lady of the house. She'll get rid of this airs sooner or later." She laughed, "Yuchuan, why are you alone? Where is the Second Madam?"

Yu Chuan replied, "Replying to Second Madam, Madam is in Second Master's room. She will be paying her respects to the Old Madam later."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Right now, only the old lady is in the hall, and there is no one else. It is just right for the second mistress to come and pay her respects."

Yu Chuan readily agreed and turned to deliver the message to Madam Wang.

Wang Xifeng watched Yuchuan's retreating figure thoughtfully, then greeted Yuanyang before turning and leaving.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Having received Yuchuan's reply, Madam Wang seized the opportunity and quickly brought Yuchuan into Rongqing Hall.

She avoids Wang Xifeng now, because she feels that this niece has taken her place and it is too disgusting to look at.

Furthermore, because Wang Xifeng is shrewd and sharp-tongued, having such a person around makes it difficult for her to speak effectively and get things done; he is too much of a hindrance.

Moreover, one should not discuss Qin Yong's matter with the old lady in front of Wang Xifeng, since Wang Xifeng is in charge of all the manpower and tasks on the estate.

If she had refused the matter to her face, she would have lost face, and the matter would have been irreversible. She could only ask the old lady to relay the message, and Wang Xifeng was able to make the matter happen out of consideration for her feelings.

After Lady Wang entered the hall, she patiently chatted with Grandmother Jia for a long time before finally turning the topic to Qin Yong.

Grandmother Jia asked in surprise, "Last time, because of Musk Moon's matter, everyone said that Qin Yong is dissolute and has a bad reputation. Why do you still want to send him to the estate?"

Madam Wang perked up and said, "Old Madam, there are some rumors circulating in the family, but they are not necessarily all true. Most of them are just rumors."

A few years ago, the Qin family's young man was indeed a bit immature, often drinking, gambling, or arguing with the younger members of the outer sect.

Most of the young servants in the outer courtyard of the mansion are like this. The stewards will scold them a few times and they will disperse. This is quite common in a large mansion. It's not like they are committing any crimes.

Every boy this age has a bit of a mischievous streak, but as they get older, they gradually become more mature and sensible.

Qin Yong is a few years older now and much more sensible than before. Although he hasn't been assigned any tasks, he still does his fair share of errands when asked to.

In terms of loyalty to his master, he was no less than anyone else; it was just that he was a bit mischievous a few years ago, which is why he was always the subject of gossip.

Now, Qin Xian and his wife help me manage the East Courtyard and Inner Courtyard. They work hard every day, saving me a lot of trouble.

Qin Xian's family has begged me several times to find a wife for their son, regardless of her status or suitability, and to get him a job.

……

Upon hearing the suggestion of finding a wife, Yu Chuan frowned, a sense of anxiety rising within her.

Madam Wang continued, "I think this young man is still young, and he should have a proper job before we can talk about marriage."

The East Wing is only a small area, and there are currently no vacant positions.

Moreover, now that the West Mansion Public Fund has less income, forcibly stuffing people into the East Mansion will increase the monthly expenditure of the Public Fund, which Feng Yatou is unwilling to accept.

I thought Qin Yong was a proper family son, very loyal to his master, and young and strong. Sending him to work on the estate would be more comfortable than keeping him cooped up in the mansion.

Let's give him the job of managing firewood; he'll be just right for both internal and external affairs. A year of experience on the estate will make him more mature, and then we can assign him more capable personnel."

After listening to Lady Wang's eloquent words, Grandmother Jia was somewhat swayed, and her thoughts on Qin Yong's bad reputation faded considerably.

He was just a little puzzled. His daughter-in-law was taking a lot of care for Qin Yong, not only finding him a job but also trying to find him a wife.

However, since Grandmother Jia had once been a housekeeper in the inner quarters, it was not surprising that she would act this way towards her daughter-in-law, who had mentioned how capable Qin Xian and his wife were.

The daughter-in-law's care for Qin Yong was merely an attempt to win over Qin Xian and his wife, making them wholeheartedly serve her—a common tactic used by housekeepers in the inner quarters.

But Feng was sharpening her knife, intending to cut the second daughter-in-law's monthly allowance and the maid's allowance, and she had just managed to get away with this.

The second daughter-in-law is already thinking of getting a job from someone else, and with these two places clashing, things are probably going to be complicated...

……

Grandmother Jia said, "The firewood manager on the estate is a job that pays one tael of silver a month. It's not a big deal."

However, Cong-ge'er entrusted the management of the West Mansion to Feng-ya, and all the tasks on the estate were also assigned to Feng-ya.

I'll talk to her about this when I have time, and let her think it over.

These days, running a household is tough. Just now, Fengya was telling me that the family's expenses are so high that they can't save any money at the end of the year, and next year will be even more difficult.

Although Feng was very clever, she was also extremely worried. She spent her days thinking about how to save money so that her family could live a comfortable life. It was truly difficult for her.

You are not only her aunt, but also her maternal aunt. If she needs your help with anything in the future, you, as her elder, should lend a hand.

Hearing this, Madam Wang felt both strange and uncomfortable.

She said, "Look at what the old lady is saying. Now that Feng is in charge of the West Mansion, she has the final say in everything."

As her aunt, I can't get involved, so she doesn't need my help.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "I was just saying that. We'll talk about it when we meet again."

She glanced casually at Yu Chuan beside Madam Wang and couldn't help but think to herself, "This girl is truly beautiful; she's got the makings of a real beauty."

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Feng Yatou had just said that the second daughter-in-law's spending was excessive and that Cong Ge'er only had one first-class maid, making their entourage rather meager.

Then it involved Yu Chuan, who was by the side of the second daughter-in-law, and they planned to bring the girl over. Now, thinking about it carefully, it all seems to have a hidden meaning.

Grandmother Jia knew very well that Cong-ge'er and Bao-yu were of the same nature; they liked pretty girls. Look at the whole house full of pretty maids he kept.

Now that Cong-ge'er and Feng-ya-tou are in cahoots, it's natural that they would want to cut the expenses of the second branch of the family and restore the status of the first branch.

Could it be that Cong-ge'er has also taken a fancy to Yu-chuan? Feng-yatou then seized the opportunity to do the same thing, and also devised a plan to help him get her...

……

Shenjing, Huitongguan.

As usual, Jia Cong entered the main hall of the meeting hall in the morning, assuming the role of the peace clerk, to listen to the peace talks between the Great Zhou and the remnant Mongol states.

However, the peace talks between the two countries have reached a stalemate. No matter how intense the arguments are or how diligently the consultations are conducted, no progress has been made in the end.

Historically, for both sides to reach a peaceful agreement, one side must make concessions. However, neither the Great Zhou nor the Remnant Mongols had the magnanimity to compromise.

Jia Cong listened to the official rhetoric for a long time and was really bored.

Just as he was getting bored, a minor official from the Huitong Hall came in to deliver a message. A clerk from Zhen'an Prefecture had been sent by Liu Binfang, the prefectural magistrate, to deliver a message to him.

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong was shocked. He remembered that he had instructed Jiang Liu last night to arrange for the old singer to go to Zhen'an Prefecture today to accuse Qin Yong of murder.

Now, a messenger from Zhen'an Prefecture has arrived with a message. Liu Binfang is someone he knows well, and Jia Cong has long been familiar with this man's shrewdness and sharpness.

Jia Cong had already concluded that Qin Yong's matter had already taken place, and Liu Binfang must have sent someone to the Huitongguan in a hurry because of this.

Jia Cong came out of the main hall and saw the clerk from Zhen'an Prefecture. He was in his thirties, with an ordinary appearance, and was holding a letter in his hand.

When he saw Jia Cong approaching, he asked, "Is this the Earl of Weiyuan?"

Jia Cong said, "It is indeed I, Lord Liu. May I ask what brings you here?"

The clerk said, "Lord Liu has a letter. The Earl of Weiyuan will recognize it at a glance. If the Earl replies, I will certainly deliver it."

Jia Cong opened the letter and quickly read it. As he expected, Zhen'an Prefecture had received a complaint from the aggrieved party, Chen Fushou, and conducted a preliminary investigation, which confirmed that the matter was indeed true.

Liu Binfang used polite language in the letter, praising the Jia family as a noble and distinguished family, a scholarly and cultured family, whose reputation for prestige and prestige was widely known in the capital.

A commoner has now reported that a servant has committed a crime. The Zhen'an Prefecture has opened a case and is enforcing the law. I am concerned that this may damage the reputation of my family for integrity and good deeds. Therefore, I am writing to inform you and discuss this matter further.

Jia Cong knew Liu Binfang's temperament well; she was sharp-eyed, shrewd, and knew when to advance and retreat—she was no ordinary person.

Back then, he was Zhang Shou'an's trusted subordinate, but during the major case in Ningguo Prefecture, he remained uninvolved and did not get involved. Zhang Shou'an was beheaded, but he escaped unscathed.

Given Liu Binfang's intelligence and competence, he would never write a letter to curry favor or show favoritism. As for his intentions, Jia Cong was perfectly clear about them.

His face was stern as he said, “Please go back and tell Lord Liu that the Jia family’s mismanagement has led to the unruly servant committing violence, and he will be severely punished according to family law.”

But now that the aggrieved party has filed a complaint, and the government is acting in accordance with the law, then the national law supersedes family rules. We implore Lord Liu to apprehend the suspect immediately to uphold the integrity of the nation. Jia Cong is deeply grateful. (End of Chapter)