Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, inner courtyard, granary side room.

Wang Xifeng examined the earring closely and said to the old woman, "Go and call Lin Zhixiao's wife here. If she dares to say a word about what happened today, I'll pull out all her teeth!"

The old woman turned pale with fright and hurriedly said, "Second Madam, please rest assured, I would never dare to say another word."

She hurriedly went out to call for someone, and after a short while, Lin Zhixiao's wife came in, and Wang Xifeng told her about the purse and earrings.

He chuckled and said, "Aunt Lin is an old Taoist priest, she should be able to guess what kind of shady business happened in this side room today."

Lin Zhixiao's wife said, "I have always known Bao Erye's temperament. Even if he is outrageous, he should not do this. What kind of behavior is this in broad daylight?"

The Rongguo Mansion still has a widowed lady living in the mansion. If word gets out, the mansion's reputation will be ruined.

Wang Xifeng said, "What Aunt Lin said makes perfect sense. Take this earring and go through all the maids in the mansion to see whose it is."

Those who are ugly and stupid are fine, but those who are clever and quick-witted, or those who usually talk to Baoyu, must not be let go!

Once you find out whose it is, don't alert anyone. Keep it under guard; I need to question them thoroughly.

……

After giving her instructions, Wang Xifeng took Feng'er to the Rongqing Hall for a banquet.

As I approached the main hall, I saw two old women and a maid sitting under the covered walkway not far away. They looked unfamiliar and were not from the household.
She assumed the servants had come with the Xia family and didn't care much. She lifted the curtain and entered Rongqing Hall.

After Wang Xifeng entered the hall and exchanged a few pleasantries, Grandmother Jia instructed the maids to start the banquet, and everyone took their seats.

As Wang Xifeng passed by Miss Xia, she smelled the sweet fragrance emanating from her hair, which was the scent of balsam flower hair oil.

Her heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of unease arose within her. Could it be that Miss Xia and Baoyu, young and impetuous, couldn't restrain themselves and were having an affair in the side room?

Wang Xifeng thought that this situation was too shocking and too absurd.

Wang Xifeng was somewhat inclined to believe that Baoyu was lustful and dissolute, and that he had caused such a mess.

Although Miss Xia and Baoyu were already engaged, they had only met a few times. Wang Xifeng found it hard to believe that a girl from a wealthy family would be in such a hurry.

She examined Xia's earlobes closely and saw that she was wearing a pair of pearl earrings, exquisite and luxurious, not ordinary, and they were a perfect pair without any missing pieces.

Miss Xia had obviously never been to the side room. The earrings she found in the side room looked to be of rather ordinary quality and did not seem to belong to a wealthy young lady.

After chatting for a while, Wang Xifeng heard Yingchun mention that Miss Xia had visited the East Mansion but had not gone with Baoyu, so she put her doubts aside.

……

During the meal, Grandmother Jia asked, "Why are Lin's maid and Yun's maid not here? Is Cong'er still busy receiving guests?"

Yingchun smiled and said, "Sister Lin is helping Brother Cong receive female guests. Today's visitors are all from Brother Cong's connections in officialdom."

Both of them were daughters of officials, and they were more capable than I was in helping Congdi socialize with the wives of officials.

Since Congdi is a male relative from a different branch of the family, it's not appropriate for him to show his face in the main hall. As his older sister, I will entertain the guests in his stead.

Hearing this, Baoyu felt somewhat relieved. Jia Cong was a man who guarded the gates of the East Mansion, always claiming that others were outsiders.

Now he's back to being an outsider, too ashamed to even enter Rongqing Hall, which is truly gratifying!
Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "He's not married yet, and he's still so young. Why should he have so many taboos? But his guest is important, so let's just leave it at that."

Baoyu was feeling quite smug, but upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, he immediately deflated. Jia Cong was the same age as him, and just because he wasn't married, he could take advantage of what Baoyu didn't have.

It's clear that all rules and etiquette in the world are utter nonsense...

……

Hearing Yingchun's words, Miss Xia felt depressed. She had come to the Jia family to pay her respects for the New Year today, hoping to take the opportunity to get closer to Jia Cong.

I never imagined that after half a day here, I would only catch a glimpse of him from afar across the covered walkway. Not only did we not exchange a word, but I also saw him being harassed by another woman. I was furious.

Even if they managed to find an excuse to visit the East Mansion, they would never see him.

According to Yingchun, this aristocratic family has many broken rules. Men from other branches of the family are considered outsiders, and even if they enter the family in the future, it will probably be difficult to get close to them...

At the banquet, Grandmother Jia and Madam Xia had a very pleasant conversation, and Madam Wang also felt honored to be a part of it.

Although Miss Xia smiled, a gloomy look always lingered between her brows, and she seemed sullen and unhappy.

Since taking his seat, Baoyu had been feeling guilty and apprehensive. Fortunately, Baochan was not in the hall, which made him feel a little more at ease.

Yingchun and Tanchun were proper guests. Both of them knew how to socialize, but because they were preoccupied with their own thoughts, they rarely spoke at the table and just waited for the banquet to end as soon as possible.

Wang Xifeng, on the other hand, was in a good mood, chatting and laughing, and even exchanging a few words with Mrs. Xia, making the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

But she kept wondering if Lin Zhixiao's family had caught that slut who lost the earring...

……

After the banquet, the Xia family mother and daughter bid farewell to Grandmother Jia and thanked her for the return gifts she had given them.

Lady Wang, accompanied by Baoyu and Tanchun, escorted the Xia family mother and daughter to the second gate before returning home.

As Baoyu watched Baochan's retreating figure, he felt a mixture of excitement and relief. He knew that when she married into the family with Miss Xia, their love would be even more enchanting, and he secretly rejoiced.

The Jia family's sedan chair departed from the second gate, passed through numerous gates and two ceremonial gates, and took about fifteen minutes to carry the Xia family mother and daughter to the west corner gate.

Mrs. Xia admired inwardly the grandeur of the Duke's family, which was truly extraordinary. She was very proud that the Xia family had formed such a prestigious relationship with them.

Since the news of their engagement has spread, the Xia family's business has become increasingly smooth, and trade routes have become much more convenient.

As expected, the reputation of being related to the Duke's family by marriage makes people more cautious in their actions.

Even the connections that Master Xia had built up back then, such as the nobles from the Zhao Prince's Mansion who invested money in the Xia family's businesses, showed a lot of goodwill towards Madam Xia.

Having witnessed the benefits of marrying into a powerful family, Mrs. Xia valued this marriage even more.

……

But Miss Xia didn't care about the grandeur of the West Mansion at all. She was still sullen after getting off the sedan chair and glanced at Baochan, who was following beside the sedan chair.

He frowned and said, "You brat, you're getting more and more slovenly. Why do you go out all bare-chested, without even an earring? You're nothing like a maid from a wealthy family."

If you continue to be so lax and sloppy, you'll embarrass me. You'll be in big trouble. I'll never take you out again, and I'll just hire a servant to pay the bills.

Baochan was so frightened by the servant's words that her legs went weak. She was still waiting to marry into the Jia family with the young lady so that she could have a long and loving relationship with Baoyu.

If the girl really goes crazy, all my scheming will be in vain, and I'll be worse off than dead.

The girl's wedding is just a few months away, so we have to keep this young lady happy. With Master Bao backing her up after she enters the family, we won't have to be afraid...

Just now, she was fooling around with Baoyu in the side room. The two of them were making love and having fun, and their movements were so intense that she lost one of her earrings.

She didn't notice at the time. After leaving the side room, she found a quiet place to tidy her clothes and messy hair, and that's when she realized something was wrong.

She knew that the lady and the young lady were both shrewd people, and that wearing just one earring would be too conspicuous and easily start a conversation, so she simply took it off...

Baochan pleaded with a pained expression, "Miss, it's all my fault. I was in a rush when I left this morning and forgot to bring my earrings. I promise I won't do it again."

"Please don't marry me off to a servant boy, young lady. I'm not going to marry anyone; I'll only serve you for the rest of my life."

……

Mrs. Xia, hearing Baochan's pitiful story, felt a certain loyalty to her daughter, who was about to get married and needed someone trustworthy by her side.

Baochan grew up in the Xia family and served her daughter from a young age, so she can be considered her daughter's confidante.

This maid will definitely be part of the dowry in the future. It's good for the daughter to have an extra right-hand woman, so it's necessary to win her over.

He said, "You're getting more and more confused as you get older. The Jia family is a wealthy and powerful family, and they are very particular about rules and etiquette. Just be more careful in the future, and make sure you don't make any mistakes."

Baochan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and followed Miss Xia into the carriage, shrinking into a corner of the carriage, not daring to even breathe loudly.

But then she remembered how Baoyu had used his charms on her in the side room of the Jia family, and how the two of them had been intimately entangled. Her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head to hide it...

……

Behind Rongguo Mansion, there is a small, single-entrance courtyard.

Two towering locust trees stand majestically at the entrance of the courtyard, their trunks bare and gnarled, reaching straight to the sky despite the biting wind.

The persimmon tree in the courtyard has a strong trunk and many bright red fruits hanging from its branches, adding a touch of brightness to this simple courtyard.

This is the home of Zhao Mama, Jia Cong's wet nurse. The courtyard is quiet, clean, and dust-free. Although simple, it is quite comfortable to be in.

Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. Although there were quite a few visitors this morning, Daiyu managed to handle them all smoothly.

After having lunch at the West Mansion, Yingchun returned to the East Mansion with Tanchun. The East Mansion saw an increase in visitors in the afternoon, but with the help of her sisters, she was able to manage the situation with ease.

As the time approached late afternoon, Jia Cong finally had some free time, so he asked Zhi Shao to accompany him and bring the New Year's gifts they had prepared beforehand to visit Granny Zhao's house to offer their New Year's greetings. Inside the main room, a brazier was burning bamboo charcoal, its glowing red light warming the room.

On the table were a tea tray and ceramic cups, filled with piping hot, fragrant tea. Jia Cong was slowly sipping his tea.

There were many gifts on the table, including brocade fabrics, exquisite pastries, and nourishing medicinal herbs, as well as a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat, all of which had been moved to the kitchen.

The sounds of Zhi Shao and Granny Zhao chatting and laughing came from the kitchen, along with the enticing aroma of bamboo fungus stewed with pheasant.

Back then, he lived in a cramped warehouse in the East Road Courtyard. He was the most despised illegitimate son in the Rongguo Mansion. Only Zhi Shao and Granny Zhao protected him and helped him through the hardships.

Even when he was on the verge of death, they pulled him back from the brink of death; their bond was deep and their affection for him was extraordinary...

Since Guo Zhigui had been serving in the army in Liaodong for many years, Jia Cong would often take Zhi Shao to visit Granny Zhao during his free time or on holidays.

For him, Zhao Mama's courtyard, compared to the magnificent Rongqing Hall, allowed him to feel the warmth of family affection more...

As dusk settled, Zhi Shao and Granny Zhao brought out piping hot dishes and set the table full.

Among them, the bamboo fungus stewed with pheasant was Zhao Mama's specialty, and it was the favorite delicacy of Jia Cong and Zhi Shao when they were young.

As the sky began to glow with brilliant sunset colors, the three of them sat down to eat in the main room, while the courtyard was filled with a warm and inviting atmosphere...

……

On the second day of the first month of the sixteenth year of Jiazhao, five li east of Xuanfu Town on the northern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

On the desolate plains where withered grass grows, the world is silent and boundless, exuding a desolate and oppressive atmosphere.

Three swift horses burst into view in an instant, galloping at breakneck speed. The deep, thunderous sound of their hooves was rapid and dense, like the beating of drums on the earth.

The knight at the front was muscular and upright, carrying a standard steel-plated goose-feather saber on his back. He gazed into the distance with a stern expression.

With the whip waving incessantly, the horse beneath him seemed to sense its master's urgency, its hooves pounding, its breath quickening, as it charged forward with all its might.

The three rode their horses at full speed for a long time. On the horizon, illuminated by the setting sun, the outline of a border town appeared, with towering city walls and a grand city gate coming into view...

……

Guo Zhigui gently took the reins, slowing the horse down. The two musketeers accompanying him also stopped their horses.

All three were panting slightly. Galloping for a long time not only consumed a lot of horsepower but also tested the riders' physical strength.

Guo Zhigui stopped his horse and gazed at Xuanfu Town in the distance. He was filled with emotion, and his mood grew heavier as he recalled the experiences he had had along the way.

Since the night before New Year's Eve, when he annihilated two hundred Mongol pursuers in the mountain pass east of Donggang Town, he rushed to Xuanfu Town overnight to report the military situation.

However, along the way, Mongolian cavalry were active all night on the road north of Donggang Town, so Guo Zhigui had to take a detour, which delayed him a lot of time.

Because the border towns reported military intelligence from beyond the Great Wall, Anda Khan's army was stationed fifty miles away from the Xuanda line.

Guo Zhigui planned to leave the pass overnight, taking advantage of the wide roads outside the pass to bypass the remaining Mongol cavalry along the way, so as to reach Xuanfu Town as soon as possible.

According to the map he carried, he found the nearest exit from the pass, which was Yaozikou, sixty miles to the north.

Along the long border connecting the three towns of Datong, Xuanfu, and Jizhou, there are many remote gorges rarely visited by people.

Most of these gorges are located in rugged terrain and are too narrow to build checkpoints. They are usually patrolled by scouts from various towns to prevent harassment by small groups of elite Mongol cavalry.

Yaozikou is such a remote gorge, and it is safer than other gorges, never having been harassed or plundered by the Mongol cavalry.

Because the area within fifty li from the gorge to the interior is completely uninhabited, with no villages or towns along the way, there is nothing of value to plunder.

Over time, Yaozikou became increasingly desolate, with almost no other inhabitants except for the border town's scout cavalry patrols.

Guo Zhigui avoided the remnants of the Mongol cavalry along the way, and with two followers, he made a nightly raid, arriving near Yaozikou before dawn.

Following military custom, they did not immediately leave the pass, but instead hid nearby to observe the situation.

They discovered a large contingent of Mongol cavalry, a considerable number, that was advancing in an endless stream, taking advantage of the thick darkness to sneak into the pass through Yaokou.

They even found the bodies of more than ten border scouts in the vicinity, all of whom had been shot at long range with bows and arrows.

Guo Zhigui could conclude that the large contingent of remnant Mongol cavalry approaching Donggang Town had sneaked through Yaozikou overnight.

They could accurately shoot down patrolling scouts, which required them to be very familiar with the scouts' patrol patterns. This would have been impossible without having spies planted in advance and someone secretly supporting them.

……

Guo Zhigui had served in the border army for many years and had a lot of experience in the military. Just a few days ago, there were rumors in the border town that the Mongol Empire and the Great Zhou Dynasty were negotiating a peace.

Now, the Mongols have defied common sense and launched a surprise attack, invading the interior of the pass overnight. The nine border towns were completely unprepared, which will surely lead to disaster.

The nearest border town to Donggang Town was Xuanfu Town, which was 200 li away. This made him even more anxious to send out urgent military intelligence and prevent the situation from deteriorating.

Because Yaozikou Pass was occupied by Mongol cavalry, Guo Zhigui had to take a detour to get out of the pass, which took a lot of time.

After they left the pass, they became even more cautious, often encountering Mongol cavalry along the way, and each time they would detour to avoid them, fortunately all without any real danger.

However, the journey was so winding and time-consuming that the three of them did not arrive near Xuanfu Town until sunset on the second day of the lunar new year, taking a total of two days.

Guo Zhigui looked towards Xuanfu Town. His experiences along the way had made him wary, and he was increasingly worried about the situation changing drastically.

A musketeer beside him said, "Commander, it took us two days to get here. The Mongols occupied Donggang Town on New Year's Eve."

I wonder how things are going in Donggang Town these past few days. If the Mongols launch a large-scale invasion, things will be terrible.

This musketeer was named Hou Liang. He came from a family of martial arts masters in the north and was exceptionally skilled in martial arts. He was also known for his courage and bravery.

Hou Liang joined the Fifth Army Battalion two years ago, and was transferred to the Liaodong Musketeer Battalion six months ago, where he was assigned to Guo Zhigui's command. The two had a good personal relationship.

Knowing the dangers of this journey, Guo Zhigui specifically chose Hou Liang to accompany him. With Hou Liang's skills as his help, they could better cope with any unexpected events that might occur along the way.

Guo Zhigui said, "The fast horses we sent out should deliver the message to Liaoyang City today, according to the estimated time."

As soon as the commander-in-chief received the news, he would immediately send it to the capital on horseback, traveling at breakneck speed.

It will take at least four days, and at most five days. The imperial court will receive an urgent battle report on the sixth or seventh day of the month. We have done everything we should.

The commander-in-chief would also send out various fast horses to warn the nine border regions of the battle situation, but they were blocked by Mongol cavalry along the way and could not get ahead of us.

Fortunately, everything is peaceful in Xuanfu Town at the moment, and the Mongols have not made any moves. We should enter the city as soon as possible to report the battle situation and let them prepare accordingly.

After Guo Zhigui finished speaking, he spurred his horse again, and the other two followed closely behind. The three of them, riding three horses, sped towards Xuanfu Town, raising a cloud of dust behind them.

……

As the Mongol invasions along the Xuanda line intensified, the imperial court, in order to contain Anda Khan, not only closed the tea-horse trade but also banned border trade between the interior and exterior of the Great Wall.

Xuanfu Town no longer opens its city gates at fixed times every day as it did in previous years, making it easier for caravans to enter and exit the pass.

In addition, the Ministry of War issued an proclamation a few days earlier, stating that although the Great Zhou had successfully negotiated peace with the remnants of the Mongols, Anda Khan was cunning and unpredictable, and ordered the Xuanfu-Daqing frontline to strengthen its defenses.

Guo Zhigui and his men rode to the city. The gates of Xuanfu Town were tightly closed, and many soldiers patrolled back and forth on the city walls, their demeanor solemn and their guards strict.

Looking north from the city gate, the vast wilderness stretches to the horizon, with withered grasses and flourishing plants appearing intermittently, creating a desolate and boundless landscape.

Guo Zhigui loudly announced his identity to the city wall. Not long after, a captain appeared on the city wall and spoke with Guo Zhigui for a while to further verify his identity.

Because Guo Zhigui had no official documents from the court, he reported the military situation on his own in a critical moment. The captain acted cautiously and lowered a basket from the city wall.

Guo Zhigui then placed the three men's military waist tags, stamped with the Liaodong Customs Seal and grain transport documents, into the hanging basket to verify their identities.

A moment later, the gates of Xuanfu Town opened, and the captain on the city wall rode his horse and led Guo Zhigui and the other two into the city.

With a serious expression, he asked, "Was the Donggang Town granary really seized by the Mongols?"

Guo Zhigui replied, "We saw it with our own eyes, it's absolutely true!"

The captain's face was solemn as he said, "Donggang Town is less than a hundred li from Xuanfu Town. If the Mongols seize the granaries and march north, they will block Xuanfu Town's rear route."

"Without the Donggang Town granary, the military town's food supplies will be cut off. This is a matter of great importance. Please come with me to the General's Mansion to report the military situation!"

Just as the group was about to ride their horses to the general's residence, they suddenly heard a commotion on the city wall. Many soldiers cried out in alarm, followed by the booming of war drums on the city wall, which was awe-inspiring.

The streets below the city were immediately thrown into turmoil, with everyone looking up at the city walls. Guo Zhigui and the captain both had drastic changes in expression.

They dismounted their horses without prior arrangement and galloped toward the city walls, climbing the battlements to gaze northward.

On the northern horizon, a black line had appeared, which quickly thickened and spread into an overwhelming tide of troops.

The thunderous sound of hooves echoed in the wind, seemingly tearing the heavens and earth apart… (End of Chapter)