Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

Liu Binfang sized up the two men and guessed that since the news from the East Courtyard had been reported to the Rongguo Mansion, these two must have been sent by the Jia family to negotiate.

Lin Zhixiao stepped forward and said, "I am Lin Zhixiao, the steward of the outer courtyard of Rongguo Mansion. I have been instructed by the old lady to speak with you, sir."

Liu Binfang turned her gaze to Baoyu, because Lin Zhixiao was just a servant, while Baoyu looked like the master of the Jia family, so it would be more effective to talk to him.

He asked, "May I ask how this young master is addressed?"

When Baoyu saw Liu Binfang dressed in official robes, speaking solemnly and with deep, unfathomable eyes, he found him to be enigmatic and unpredictable.

Baoyu felt a little flustered, as if he were being suppressed by the other person's aura. His face flushed red, and he was momentarily speechless.

Although he had visited the Prince of Beijing's residence several times and met some officials who composed poems and essays, they were all kind and gentle to him, and very cultured.

Their conversation was casual and relaxed, completely lacking the imposing official air of Liu Binfang, which made Baoyu, who despised officialdom, feel extremely uncomfortable.

Originally, Lin Zhixiao's wife came to deliver a message, asking him to deal with the legal troubles in the East Courtyard. At first, Baoyu refused to go no matter what.

It's utterly absurd to send someone as proud and upright as him to deal with constables and yamen runners; it's a waste of his talent.

Fortunately, Xiren said from the side, "Now that there is a lawsuit in the family, neither Master nor Third Master Cong are at home. Second Master is the only adult man in the family."

Naturally, it was Second Master who had to deal with it, especially since it was the Old Madam who made him go. If Second Master didn't want to go, the Old Madam would have let it go.

But when the young ladies in the family heard about it, they mostly felt that the Second Master couldn't handle the responsibility, and they would probably look down on him, which would make the Second Master lose face.

……

Upon hearing Xiren's words, Baoyu thought of his sisters who had gone to the East Mansion and never wanted to return, all because they had been poisoned by Jia Cong, that parasite.

They felt that Jia Cong's ability to navigate officialdom was a remarkable skill, and they didn't necessarily underestimate anyone else in the world.

If Jia Cong can do it, why can't I? Since it was the old lady who ordered it, I had to bite the bullet and go, even if it was out of filial piety.

It also lets Lin Daiyu and the others see what kind of person they really are.

Although he was generous in his heart, he had been living a leisurely life in the inner quarters since childhood and had rarely seen the dangers of the world. When he actually saw this group of yamen runners with swords and chains, he couldn't help but feel afraid.

He had already regretted his actions, having encountered a magistrate like Liu Binfang, who was used to interrogating people and whose words carried an imposing authority.

A single question, though seemingly innocuous, left Baoyu utterly defeated, unable to utter a single word.

Lin Zhixiao said from the side, "This is the second son of the East Courtyard, Master Bao. He was also instructed by the old lady to come and talk with me."

Liu Binfang's gaze held a hint of amusement as she said, "But what about the young master Bao who was born with a jade in his mouth, as rumored in the capital?"

Upon hearing this, Baoyu felt much less embarrassed and much more at ease. He hadn't expected this official to be so knowledgeable.

Lin Zhixiao frowned slightly. The second master of the manor had instructed that the jade of the second young master Bao was taboo, and no one in the family was allowed to mention it again.

He quickly replied, "Master Bao does possess jade, but he wouldn't dare claim it's anything miraculous. Sir, please take it with a grain of salt and don't take it seriously."

Upon hearing Lin Zhixiao's words, Baoyu felt a pang of injustice. He felt that the old servant was talking nonsense, and that he was trying to cover up something that everyone already knew.

Xu, the head constable standing nearby, was a rough fellow. Upon hearing this, he laughed heartily: "You said he has jade, so I recognize this gentleman. He's the one who said the Emperor Emeritus was stupid..."

Before Officer Xu could even lay an egg, Liu Binfang whispered, "Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Officer Xu suddenly realized his mistake and said awkwardly, "I've spoken carelessly, I deserve to die, please forgive me, sir."

……

Baoyu felt ashamed and embarrassed after hearing Xu the constable's sarcasm. He had only said a few words in the inner quarters, and the Imperial Clan Court had come to his door to scold him.

I was severely punished by the master for this, and so much time has passed. Haven't I been humiliated enough?

Now even a lowly constable has to make fun of this; it's truly outrageous.

I'm merely a little more knowledgeable than the average person, yet people are so relentless in their criticism—it's utterly unreasonable...

Although Liu Binfang stopped Constable Xu's teasing remarks, it did not mean that he had any affection for Baoyu. After that, he didn't bother to look at Baoyu again.

He said to Lin Zhixiao, "The Zhen'an Prefecture has received a complaint from a victim involving a murder case. I have come to arrest the suspect, Qin Yong. Does Steward Lin have anything to say?"

Lin Zhixiao said, "Your Excellency is unaware that although Qin Yong is a servant born into the household, he has a history of improper conduct."

The household did not assign him any work, and he did not often move around the household.

We servants don't understand matters of government arrests. The old lady instructed the old servant to invite the official into the outer courtyard for tea.

The messenger has been sent to the Ministry of Works, and the Second Master is on his way back. Please wait a moment, sir.

Liu Binfang understood Lin Zhixiao's meaning: as a steward, he dared not make the decision on the matter of arresting Qin Yong; he had to wait for Jia Zheng to return to the mansion to make the decision.

The Rongguo Mansion was, after all, a noble family, unlike ordinary commoners. Qin Yong was a servant born into the second wife's household, essentially the second wife's private property.

The Zhen'an Prefecture's plan to arrest Qin Yong naturally required Jia Zheng's knowledge and approval, which was to be expected.

……

Lin Zhixiao stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a while, the black lacquered door opened slightly, revealing Qin Xian's still-shaken face.

He asked, "Why has Steward Lin come? The officials came to the door, but the master and mistress were not home, so I had to keep the doors tightly shut and dared not let anyone in."

Lin Zhixiao sneered, "Qin Xian, you've raised a fine son. He's really bringing honor to our Jia family!"
The old lady instructed me to receive the officials; you take your men and guard the inner courtyard. You don't need to worry about anything else.

Upon hearing these cold words, Qin Xian felt his legs go weak and he cautiously opened the black lacquered door.

Liu Binfang acted with great discretion, only bringing Constable Xu and one yamen runner into the courtyard, while the other yamen runners stayed at the main gate.

He exchanged a few words with Lin Zhixiao along the way, seemingly having long forgotten the thought that the servant had broken his word.

Officer Xu had spoken too quickly and said something unpleasant, but Liu Binfang stopped him in time, which was only to save face for the Jia family.

But what Liu Binfang was thinking was actually no different from what Officer Xu was thinking.

A person who insulted the Emperor was demoted by the Imperial Clan Court and was practically a living dead in the eyes of the public.

As a court official, I naturally have to consider the palace's position, so I should stay away from this damned Baoyu to avoid any gossip...

Although Baoyu was following beside him, he noticed that neither Liu Binfang nor Constable Xu seemed to care about his presence, as if he didn't exist at all.

He was extremely reluctant to come and entertain the officials, but he was only forced to come because of Xiren's words.

Seeing that these filthy officials had stopped arguing with him, he breathed a sigh of relief and felt inexplicably at ease.

But when he saw the prefectural magistrate, although he didn't speak to him, he was talking enthusiastically with Lin Zhixiao.

It was as if he were chatting idly with a servant, which was more interesting than talking to him, making Baoyu feel somewhat uncomfortable...

……

Liu Binfang had only been seated in the main hall for a short while when she heard footsteps outside and saw Jia Zheng, accompanied by his servant, hurrying into the hall.

Zi Gai Gai Bin Fang stood up and said, "This humble official is Liu Bin Fang, the Tongpan of Zhen'an Prefecture. I have come to greet Lord Jia. I am preoccupied with official business at the prefectural office and have disturbed you. I hope you will forgive me."

The Tongpan of Zhen'an Prefecture was a sixth-rank official, lower than Jia Zheng, who was a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works. That's why Lin Binfang addressed Jia Zheng as "your subordinate" according to official etiquette.

When Jia Zheng heard the news from his family, he was filled with anger and shame. He had always been careful in his words and deeds, but his household was in turmoil because of such a wicked servant.

Hearing Liu Binfang's polite words, he quickly said, "I am ashamed that my family has failed in its upbringing, producing such a wicked servant. I hope you will forgive my behavior, Lord Liu."

Liu Binfang said, "Lord Jia, there is no need to blame yourself. As the saying goes, a tall tree will inevitably produce withered branches. It is not surprising that a wealthy family with a large population would have one or two such incidents."

I heard from the steward that this man has no official duties and rarely leaves the manor; I don't know where he lives.

Jia Zheng said, "This scoundrel is the only son of Qin Xian, the steward of the East Courtyard. All the servants in the mansion with stewardship positions live under the porch on the back street."

Officer Xu said from the side, "Lord Liu, we have arranged for people to guard the back street. As long as Qin Yong goes in and out of the back street, he will definitely not be able to escape."

Please inform me of Qin Yong's address, Lord Jia, so that I may lead men to arrest him.

Jia Zheng hurriedly asked Li Gui to lead the way, taking Constable Xu to the back street to arrest Qin Yong.

Only a short while later, Constable Xu hurriedly returned, saying that a search of the Qin family's residence had yielded no trace of Qin Yong.

Jia Zheng then summoned Qin Xian for questioning. Qin Xian said that Qin Yong went out yesterday afternoon and did not return all night. He was nowhere to be seen this morning, and his whereabouts were unknown.

Liu Binfang said, "Lord Jia, Qin Yong is involved in a major murder case. He is a servant of the second branch of the Jia family."

"This is a routine official duty; I must search your residence, both inside and out, to find any trace of him and to clear your name of any suspicion. I hope you will understand."

Jia Zheng sighed and said, "Lin Zhixiao, send a message to the inner courtyard that the women of the household should temporarily hide in the main hall of the inner courtyard so that the government can search for Qin Yong."

After Lin Zhixiao made the arrangements, Liu Binfang personally led three shifts of yamen runners to search for Qin Yong's whereabouts in the inner and outer courtyards, and instructed his subordinates not to damage any items.

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the hall. It was Jia Cong who had received a message from Grandmother Jia and rushed from the meeting hall to the East Courtyard.

After a short while, Lin Binfang led the yamen runners out of the inner courtyard and back to the outer hall.

He said to Jia Zheng, "I have searched both the inner and outer courtyards, but there is no trace of Qin Yong. I have offended you and troubled you, Lord Jia." In fact, since Officer Xu did not find Qin Yong in the back street, Liu Binfang did not expect to find him in the east courtyard. It was just a formality.

After all, cases handled by the government offices involve nobles and high-ranking officials, and are all thorny and dangerous matters. If one only scratches the surface, or goes too far, it will leave room for gossip.

The disgrace and ruin of Zhang Shou'an, the former prefect of Zhen'an Prefecture, serves as a cautionary tale.

Liu Binfang and the current prefect Hong Wenxuan neither wanted to be stigmatized for currying favor with the powerful, so they naturally had to be extremely careful with their official conduct so that no one could find fault with them.

If even the slightest hint of wrongdoing is left unaddressed, and that talkative censor seizes the opportunity to submit a memorial impeaching the official, thus stirring up a storm in the court, he will bring trouble upon himself...

……

Jia Cong said, "Lord Liu, Qin Xian is a servant of the second branch of the family. Because his parents are in charge of internal and external affairs in the East Courtyard, he only comes and goes in the East Courtyard and never appears in the West Courtyard."

The old lady at home is too old to be disturbed. I, an official, guarantee with my position that Qin Yong is definitely not in the West Mansion. I implore Lord Liu to do me this favor.

Upon hearing Jia Cong's words, Jia Zheng naturally understood their meaning and was filled with remorse and shame.

Qin Xian was a servant born into the second wife's household. It was one thing for the government to search the East Courtyard, since the East Courtyard was just a side courtyard of Rongguo. Even if some gossip arose, it could be covered up.

If the main courtyard of the West Mansion were also raided by officials, the Rong and Jia families would lose face and become a laughingstock among the nobles of the capital.

Liu Binfang smiled and said, "Lord Weiyuan, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise. Qin Yong is a servant of the second branch of the Jia family. There is no reason for him to search the residence of the first branch."

"Our late Duke Rongguo was a man of great merit, establishing the nation with outstanding achievements, revered by all. Even if I had several times the courage, I would never dare to disrespect the Rongguo government."

Jia Cong had received a message from Liu Binfang beforehand, and the two spoke politely to each other, tacitly understanding each other's intentions.

Before leaving, Liu Binfang said, "Now that Qin Yong has fled, I will issue an arrest warrant after I return to the yamen, and the three shifts of yamen runners will search the entire city."

His parents are both at your residence. If he sneaks back home, please inform the government so that he can be apprehended.

Jia Cong said, "Lord Liu, please rest assured. Qin Yong has committed such a heinous act, which has disgraced our family. The Jia family will not let this wicked servant off lightly."

I will arrange for the servants in the manor to search the areas where he usually frequents. Once they find anything, they will immediately notify the government office.

After seeing Liu Binfang off, Jia Zheng glanced at Qin Xian, who was standing to the side with his head down, looking somewhat apprehensive.

He angrily said, "You raised such a fine son, who forcibly took a woman, drove her to her death, ruined the family's reputation, and tarnished the Jia family's name. What crime should you be punished for?"

Li Gui, take Qin Xian and his wife to the woodshed and lock them up for now. I will deal with them when I return.

"Cong-ge'er, let's go back to the West Mansion first. The old lady must still be worried; we need to let her know what's going on."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Cong recounted the events at the East Wing Courtyard, detailing the whole affair. Jia Zheng listened with a deep sigh, while Grandmother Jia was filled with indignation.

He said, "Now the family is in more and more chaos. Even a servant dares to bully men and women. It's truly lawless."

The Qin family is fundamentally flawed; they are related to Wang Shanbao.

"The witchcraft used by Wang Shanbao's family harmed people, and Qin Xianyang's son took lives; they are birds of a feather and should not be let off lightly."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang turned pale. She had vaguely heard the gossip, but she hadn't expected it to be so serious. That scoundrel Qin Yong had actually driven someone to their death.

But she felt a lingering fear mixed with relief; thankfully, the boy had escaped...

Seeing that Madam Wang's face was pale, Wang Xifeng felt a little smug. Just now, her aunt had been praising Qin Yong to the skies, but now she had contradicted herself.

As the mistress of the East Wing Courtyard, she couldn't escape responsibility for the servants causing someone's death.

Wang Xifeng's bright eyes darted back and forth, pondering whether she could take advantage of the situation to make a quick buck...

……

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Jia Cong said, "What you say makes sense. Today, the Zhen'an Prefecture came to arrest people, and the officials and constables blocked the gate of the East Courtyard."

Many neighbors on Ningrong Street witnessed Qin Yong's actions, which could no longer be concealed. This mere servant acted recklessly, even going so far as to bully men and women and take lives.

If this matter is not dealt with, it will be difficult to silence public opinion. Others will think that the Jia family is lax and absurd in managing its household affairs, which is why it has raised such a heartless and wicked servant.

Qin Yong has now fled, and the government will send people to arrest him. He will be brought to trial and punished according to the law.

However, the national regulations cannot be ignored; there must be some form of punishment to serve as a warning to others.

Qin Xian and his wife have failed in their duty to raise their son properly, bringing shame upon the Rong family's reputation. They can no longer serve as stewards of the East Courtyard and must be punished as a warning to others regarding family rules.

Jia Zheng angrily said, "Cong-ge'er is absolutely right. Qin Xian raised such a beast, and he should not be let off lightly. The two of them should be expelled from the Jia family and sold off."

Jia Cong said, "Master, you've gone too far. Our Jia family only buys people, we never sell them. If others hear this, it will surely cause gossip."

Now that Qin Yong has fled without a trace, Qin Xian and his wife are still his parents, so he might sneak back because of this.

"These two should be kept here for now, sent to the estate to live. If the master is still not satisfied, he can have the estate steward discipline them strictly."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng thought of Cong Laosan's most beloved maid, and how he hated Wang Shanbao's family the most when Zhi Shao was forced to drown herself.

In recent years, anyone who has been involved with her has not had a good outcome. Siqi, the personal maid of the second sister, was released from the mansion and married off early.

Qin Xian was related to Wang Shanbao by marriage. Back then, he gained power and influence in the Western Prefecture by relying on Wang Shanbao's family.

Now that the Qin family has caused such a huge mess, how could Cong Laosan let them off easily?

……

When Lady Wang saw that Jia Cong had come up with a bad idea to send Qin Xian and his wife to the estate, she was immediately filled with anxiety and a sense of panic.

He said, "Cong-ge'er, it was Qin Yong who did the evil. Qin Xian and his wife were unaware of it and did not commit any major wrongdoing."

Is it a bit much to send them to the estate?

Upon hearing Lady Wang's words, Grandmother Jia frowned, feeling that her second daughter-in-law was being too reckless.

With the second wife causing such a scandal, she, as the head of the household, has already become a target of gossip.

She doesn't even know how to restrain herself now, still protecting Qin Xian and his wife. I don't know what she's after.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's face flushed with anger. He was about to reprimand Jia Cong when Jia Cong said, "Madam, as the saying goes, it is the father's fault if his children are not properly raised."

Today, the government officials came to arrest Qin Yong. All the relatives and friends of Ningrong Street witnessed it with their own eyes. The evil deeds Qin Yong committed will spread tomorrow.

As Qin Yong's parents, Qin Xian and his wife were still managing the affairs inside and outside the East Wing Courtyard. Anyone who saw this would surely say that the Jia family had no rules or regulations.

When the servants of the two households see such an exemplary example, they will think that their masters are weak and incompetent, and that even if they commit heinous crimes, they can get away with it unscathed.

Once the servants below develop a sense of侥幸 (a sense of getting away with something), they will gradually lose all restraint in their actions.

If this continues, the Jia family will produce a second and a third Qin Yong, and then the family will surely fall into chaos, and it will be too late to regret it!

……

Standing beside Lady Wang, Yu Chuan's bright eyes sparkled when she heard Jia Cong's words, and a sudden inspiration flashed in her mind.

She remembered that her sister Jin Chuan had once said that she and Bao Gu Niang had gone to Third Master and asked him to help them get rid of the trouble of being betrothed to Qin Yong.

Third Master promised to find a proper way to save him; someone as capable as him would surely keep his word.

After hearing his fierce words, he managed to drive Qin Xian's family out of the East Mansion.

Could this be the plan Third Master was thinking of? If he could get rid of Qin Yong's whole family, wouldn't he be saved?

But how could Third Master know that Qin Yong was committing evil deeds outside...?

Yu Chuan pondered the matter, still somewhat confused, but she was certain that Jia Cong was saving her.

Thinking that the trouble she had been worried about for so long had been resolved so easily, she felt an indescribable sense of relief and joy. Overwhelmed with emotion, a faint blush rose on her pretty face.

Her bright, watery eyes involuntarily turned to look at Jia Cong, her gaze filled with admiration and gratitude.

……

Just then, Jia Cong finished speaking, which was quite a wake-up call. Both Grandmother Jia and Wang Xifeng could tell that his words were sharp and that he must be very dissatisfied.

Jia Zheng reprimanded Lady Wang, "Shut up! As the mistress of the house, you've failed to manage your household properly and are now protecting your servants. Have you lost your mind?"

Lady Wang's pale face flushed red, and her body trembled slightly, but she dared not contradict Jia Zheng.

Grandmother Jia sighed, preparing to step in and mediate, lest her son and daughter-in-law quarrel over this matter and cause an unpleasant situation for everyone during the New Year.

Just as she was about to speak, she inadvertently glanced at the jade bracelet behind Madam Wang, and a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

Why was this little girl blushing for no reason? Her big, watery eyes were fixed on Cong-ge'er, her gaze unwavering, looking completely dazed with affection.

Grandmother Jia smiled bitterly to herself. It seemed she hadn't been wrong after all. Feng was indeed playing tricks, and she must have seen through Yu Chuan's true nature long ago.

Cong-ge'er is really outrageous. He leaves early and returns late every day, and Yu-chuan is mostly in the east courtyard. When did he start hooking up with this girl...? (End of this chapter)