Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Sister Feng's Courtyard.

As noon approached, the sky was overcast, and light snow drifted in the air, swept up by the cold wind, swirling and fluttering like flying petals and jade.

The gray-black roof tiles were covered with a blanket of white, and several icicles hung from the eaves, crystal clear and gleaming with a cold light.

Several maids and young wives hurriedly left Sister Feng's courtyard, their faces pale and their expressions tense, unwilling to stay a moment longer.

From the eve of sunset yesterday until this morning, this situation has continued in Sister Feng's courtyard.

Moreover, none of the maids and wives who were questioned dared to speak out, because being approached in this way would ruin their reputation if others found out.

So the matter raged for half a day, but it was kept a deep secret in the mansion, and even Grandmother Jia didn't hear a word about it.

It was nearly noon, and a luncheon was to be held in Rongqing Hall for Grandmother Jia to entertain visiting female relatives.

Logically speaking, Wang Xifeng, as the eldest daughter-in-law and the matriarch of the Rongguo Mansion, naturally had a place at the table to accompany the guests.

However, she had something on her mind and didn't like sitting at the same table as her aunt. Madam Wang needed to sit at the table to save face, but Wang Xifeng didn't need to.

She was the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch of the family and the elder sister-in-law of the head of the family, Jia Cong. Even if she did not attend banquets, she was still the matriarch of the Rongguo Mansion.

Even when Madam Wang was served at the banquet, in the eyes of those noble ladies, she was still just a plate of dog meat.

Therefore, when the banquet was held at Rongqing Hall, Lady Wang entered with great poise, but Wang Xifeng, under the pretext of taking care of household affairs, complained to Grandmother Jia and the female guests and left the hall.

Even if she weren't in charge, Wu'er and Ping'er could handle it on their own; she was just in a hurry to get back and catch them in the act of adultery...

In the inner room, under the south window on the kang (heated brick bed), Wang Xifeng leaned against the brocade backrest, her right hand resting on a pillow, dressed in silk and brocade, her head adorned with pearls and jade.

Lin Zhixiao's wife stood in front of the kang (a heated brick bed) and said, "Second Madam, starting yesterday afternoon, I went through all the maids and young wives in the mansion."

I know the background of these people, and I asked them detailed questions. They can't play tricks on me.

None of them were suspicious; the women who mingled with Master Bao were definitely not from the inner courtyard of the mansion.

Wang Xifeng was somewhat disappointed, but she knew that Lin Zhixiao's wife was the steward of the inner courtyard, a very experienced and meticulous woman.

She knew all the maids and wives in the inner courtyard very well, and she couldn't find any suspicious information about them, so they must be trustworthy.

He said, "Baoyu rarely leaves the house, and he rarely even goes outside the second gate. He doesn't know any women outside."

The woman he was having an affair with in the side room wasn't a maid or wife from the inner courtyard of the mansion; what kind of woman was she?

Lin Zhixiao's wife said, "Second Madam, that woman is not from our inner courtyard, which is a good thing. If something happens, it won't affect our reputation."

It's not surprising that this isn't the case. All these maids and wives who try to get close to their masters do so because they want to climb the social ladder and gain some practical benefits.

But the situation at home is very different now. Bao Erye is now a concubine's husband, so how can he be considered a high-ranking official?

In the future, the second wife will be separated into her own house and household, and at that time, she will be in the same category as the poor relatives of the seventh wife.

The maids and wives in our inner courtyard all know these rules; they are all people we know well. Who among them would be so insane as to flaunt themselves before Master Bao?

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "What you say makes sense. To put it bluntly, these maids and wives who want to climb the social ladder should look for someone like Brother Cong."

Baoyu and Cong are the same age, both utterly useless and good-for-nothing. Any woman who gets involved with them is doomed for life.

……

Lin Zhixiao's wife said, "But the purse and earrings in the side room are all genuine. If Master Bao did something dirty, there's no way they could be fake."

Wang Xifeng suddenly remembered something: yesterday, the old lady held a banquet at Rongqing Hall to entertain the Xia family mother and daughter who came to pay New Year's visits.

When he entered the hall and took his seat, he smelled the fragrance of Miss Xia's hair oil and the woman's hair he had found in the side room; both smelled of the same balsam flower.

Although the woman who was having an affair with Baoyu in the side room could not possibly be Miss Xia, could it be some other female relative from out of town who was visiting...?

Wang Xifeng said, "If it wasn't a family member who did something shameful, then it must have been an outsider who came to pay New Year's visits."

You see, the female guests who come and go are usually accompanied by maids and servants, so these earrings were most likely lost by them, but that's a difficult matter to investigate.

Lin Zhixiao's wife said, "These women who come to pay their respects for the New Year are old friends from several generations, and they are all dignified and proper people with good family upbringing."

Besides, they only come a few times a year, twice a year for holidays and birthdays, and each time they come and go together, unlike their close relationship with Master Bao, where they are practically inseparable.

However, one of the visitors was somewhat different. Although they were not old friends or noble families, they had been visiting each other frequently over the past six months.

"That's just the nature of Master Bao; even if there are things we don't know, they must exist..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's bright eyes sparkled, and she laughed, "Auntie is quite shrewd; she thinks the same way I do."

Baoyu was betrothed to the Xia family. Madam Xia was a shrewd and sophisticated woman. I knew she had climbed into the ranks of the Duke's family, and she was naturally very proud of herself.

This woman is capable of managing such a large family business; she's no pushover. How could she not try to befriend our family?

I noticed she had the Second Madam very pleased with her, and had been frequently visiting the East Courtyard for the past six months. I never expected her to be so clever, as Baoyu had outmaneuvered her and taken advantage of the situation…”

……

As Wang Xifeng spoke, she became excited, her eyebrows and eyes beaming with joy, and she was laughing so hard that it was almost unbelievable.

Lin Zhixiao's wife couldn't help but laugh when she heard this, and said, "Grandma's guess makes sense. I really can't think of any other reason."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Yesterday when I entered Rongqing Hall, I saw two old women and a maid in the corridor. They were not from our household, but must be the Xia family's mother and daughter's attendants."

That little maid was quite pretty; I saw her twice in the east courtyard, but I can't remember her name.

Lin Zhixiao's wife also perked up and, after thinking for a moment, said, "Yesterday I heard Mrs. Xia order this girl around; her name is Baochan."

Wang Xifeng's eyes darted around, and after a quick thought, she chuckled and said, "The names Baoyu and Baochan are quite a good match."

I thought about it over and over, and I really couldn't think of anyone else besides this little girl. Moreover, she was quite outstanding, even better than the girls in Baoyu's room.

With Baoyu's frivolous nature, how could he not provoke her when he saw her looks and figure?

It's not surprising that the young maidservant, being so inexperienced, was easily won over by Baoyu. These earrings must belong to her; there's probably no doubt about it.

Mrs. Xia has found a good son-in-law. Her precious daughter hasn't even married into the family yet, and the son-in-law has already taken care of her personal maid. Haha..."

Seeing Wang Xifeng's mischievous smile, Lin Zhixiao's wife couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "Second Mistress is so quick-witted; she solved the case in no time."

We just guessed the earring belonged to that girl, but we couldn't verify it. She'd definitely deny it to the death, and catching her in the act without proving it wasn't a good idea to take action.

……

Just then, Ping'er lifted the curtain and came in. Wang Xifeng asked, "Why are you alone? What has Wu'er been busy with?"

Ping'er smiled and said, "News came from the East Mansion that Third Master just returned from Luocang Mountain, so Fifth Master went back to check on him. I'll stay here and watch the stall."

Wang Xifeng said, "Something just happened. Although I have an idea in mind, I would also like to hear Brother Cong's opinion."

"Leave things here to Aunt Lin. Go back and tell Brother Cong that I'll be well-informed about how to handle things."

Lin Zhixiao's wife recounted the whole story of the incident in the side room, as well as what she had found out during the past half-day investigation.

Ping'er's face flushed red as she said, "Grandma, this is terrible! There are several widows in the manor. If this gets out, Third Master will lose face."

Wang Xifeng said, "That's exactly what I meant. Go and tell Brother Cong that he must know about this."

……

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Early in the morning, Jia Cong took Yinglian to Luocang Mountain to pay New Year's respects and chatted with their teacher, Liu Jing'an, over tea.

Liu Jing'an's son and several grandchildren are all officials in other places and cannot return home for the Spring Festival.

However, many of the Liu family members of the same generation as Jia Cong, as well as their younger relatives, studied at home, and most of them achieved the titles of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) and Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examinations).

Even though nine Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) came from Liu Jing'an's school, Jia Cong was still the best among them. Many of Liu's peers and younger generations sought his advice and had pleasant conversations with him.

Compared to his time in the Jia family's two mansions, where he had no peers to talk to or learn from, it was a stark contrast.

Madam Cui treated Jia Cong as her own son, but knowing that he was now the head of two households and had many social engagements during the holidays, she did not try to persuade him to stay.

After Jia Cong had lunch at the Liu residence, Cui Shi let him go down the mountain, but instructed him before he left to stay in Luocang for a few days when he had some free time on the tenth.

Before leaving, he asked Jia Cong to take the prepared New Year's gifts back to the mansion and give them to his elder sister Yingchun, or to the elders in the family.

……

Jia Cong had just returned to the mansion and was in the courtyard with Zhi Shao, Wu'er, Yinglian and others, sorting out the New Year's gifts they had brought back and then distributing them to their family members.

But then Ping'er hurriedly returned and pulled Jia Cong back to the study to talk. Jia Cong noticed her strange expression and knew it must be something important.

The two entered the study, and Ping'er recounted the events. Jia Cong's expression darkened.

Last time, in the Mengpo Studio in the East Courtyard, Baoyu was having an affair with Baochan, but he and Jia Zheng caught them in the act.

If Jia Cong hadn't intervened that time, Baoyu would have already been punished by Jia Zheng with an inkstone. Now, not long after, Baoyu is already messing with that Baochan again, completely oblivious to his own limitations. He's truly beyond redemption.

He said in a deep voice, "A prominent family engaging in debauchery within its inner quarters is a grave crime against the clan and cannot be tolerated!"

Although the sisters have moved to the East Mansion, the West Mansion is still inhabited by widows such as the First Wife and Sister-in-law You. Lian's second brother is serving in the army in Liaodong, and his second sister-in-law is also practically a widow.

Such a woman living alone is most likely to have her reputation tarnished. If even the slightest word gets out that Baoyu has done such a despicable thing.

If outsiders make irresponsible accusations, the reputation of the Xifu family will be ruined, and how will they be able to face others in the future?

Now that the eldest son's family is in charge, we can't just let things go unchecked. If Baoyu causes trouble again, or if the Xia family finds out, what will we do then?
Please pass on a message to my second sister-in-law: this matter must not be exposed, lest we all suffer and the reputation of the West Mansion be tarnished.

Originally, it was agreed that Baoyu would get married in March and then move back to the East Courtyard. But with this scandal, we must take precautions to prevent him from making the same mistake again. This matter cannot be delayed any longer!
Please have my second sister-in-law handle this matter. She is far more capable than I am at managing household affairs, and she will surely be able to get it done well.

Ping'er said, "Third Master's point is absolutely right. Second Master Bao will move to the East Courtyard sooner or later. If we delay for another two months, something will happen and we will all lose face."

However, we cannot inquire about this matter with the Xia family. Not only would it cause a huge uproar, but they are also widows and only daughters, and they would definitely not acknowledge it.

Without concrete evidence, and without a pretext for action, given the Second Madam's consistent mindset, things might not go smoothly.

……

Jia Cong paced back and forth in the study, his voice deep and thoughtful, saying, "Since we can't go to the Xia family to verify this, it's feasible to start from our own side."

Second Sister-in-law didn't find Baoyu's purse. If such a man's personal item were accidentally lost, Baoyu's people around him would have noticed.

Baoyu's closest confidante was Xiren. She had served Baoyu since childhood and was always by his side, so she knew everything about him.

The second sister-in-law found the purse in the side room and was able to deduce eight or nine out of ten things about it.

Xiren served Baoyu her whole life; I don't believe she would be completely unaware of this matter!
As long as she knows some details, she'll definitely feel guilty. Second Sister-in-law is skilled in the ways of the inner quarters; if she follows the prescription and the clues, I believe she won't be stumped..."

Although Jia Cong didn't say everything, Ping'er was very perceptive and used to doing housework.

After giving her to Jia Cong, they spent every day together, sharing a loving and intimate relationship. They were kindred spirits, and she could understand everything he said instantly.

He nodded and said, "Third Master is the best. I'll go and tell Second Madam right away."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Sister Feng's Courtyard.

Upon hearing Ping'er's message, Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Brother Cong is truly resourceful, managing to think of Xiren. I really wouldn't have thought of that without his reminder."

He's the head of the household, and he has a good relationship with the second master, so this matter shouldn't be his responsibility. It's better for us women to handle it; that way, things will be more appropriate both inside and out.

Ping'er, now that you're Brother Cong's man, you don't need to get involved. It'll only give others cause for gossip and create unnecessary trouble. Just mind your own business.

After Ping'er left, Wang Xifeng pondered for a moment, then gave some instructions to Lin Zhixiao's wife before asking her to call Xiren to speak with her.

Xiren comforted Baoyu and asked Chunyan to go to the kitchen to call for wine and dishes. The group was having a small feast with Baoyu, and his previous fear and worry gradually faded away.

Suddenly, Jia Hui came in to deliver a message, saying, "Sister Xi Ren, Second Mistress has sent a servant to summon you to her courtyard for questioning."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed. Caiyun said, "Sister Xiren, Second Madam is so excited right now that she even wants to go over and question you."

She could ask other maids, but her sister was the Second Master's woman; did she really need to seduce him?

The old woman's voice came from outside: "Miss Hua, Second Madam is waiting for you to come over and talk, but she can't wait any longer, so please be quick."

Xiren's face paled upon hearing this. Which servant or maid in the manor was not afraid of Wang Xifeng? She was a woman with a sharp tongue and ruthless methods.

No matter how cunning the maids and wives were, they couldn't cause trouble in front of her.

Xi Ren was Bao Yu's woman, not an ordinary maid. Wang Xi Feng wouldn't do anything to her, but Xi Ren couldn't help but tremble inside.

Feeling guilty, Baoyu turned pale with fright and said, "Sister Xiren, Sister Feng wouldn't know about that, would she..."

Upon hearing this, Caiyun's eyes lit up, and she asked, "What exactly happened? How come I didn't know about it?"

Caixia remained silent. She had made up her mind that the most important thing was the child in her womb, and everything else was irrelevant to her.

Xiren said, "Second Master is talking nonsense again, talking about this and that. Second Mistress just wants to talk. I'll be right back."

"You all just eat and drink. Caiyun, you stay with Second Master and stay quietly in the courtyard. Don't go out wandering around unless necessary."

……

Xiren left the house with trepidation and followed the old woman into Fengjie's courtyard. She saw two women from the inner courtyard standing under the eaves of the main house, each with a cold expression.

Xiren, who frequented the inner courtyard, knew that these two were Lin Zhixiao's right and left hands, working there and being his trusted confidants.

As soon as Xiren entered the courtyard, the gatekeeper slammed the gate shut, making her heart tremble and her legs feel weak.

What exactly did Second Grandma want to ask? She just entered the courtyard and then closed the gate. What did that mean in broad daylight? It was a little creepy...

As Xiren entered the inner room, a fragrant warmth wafted over her. Inside, she saw a cloisonné enamel incense burner, gently releasing its rich, cloud-like fragrance.

Under the south window of the main room was a large kang (heated brick bed), covered with a bright red felt strip. Fengjie was sitting on the kang, her head resting on a brocade backrest, holding a brass hand warmer inlaid with blue.

She wore a bright red round-necked jacket embroidered with golden plum blossoms and auspicious patterns, a beige stand-up collar jacket with a dark floral pattern, and a dark purple embroidered horse-face skirt, exuding extraordinary elegance and nobility.

Her jet-black hair was adorned with a large phoenix hairpin with five strands of pearls, its jewels gleaming and dazzling. Her eyes were sharp and her face flushed, her beauty captivating.

She seemed not to even glance at Xiren as she lifted the curtain and entered the room, but instead poked at the charcoal fire in the hand warmer with a spoon. Lin Zhixiao's wife stood quietly to the side, without saying a word.

……

Seeing Wang Xifeng's imposing manner, Xiren became increasingly uneasy and cautiously asked, "I wonder what Second Mistress wants to say to me?"

Wang Xifeng said, "Xiren, you are also an old servant in the mansion. You have served Brother Bao since he was a child and are his closest person. You know everything about him."

Now that a major incident has occurred in the inner courtyard, and out of consideration for family relationships, I cannot directly question Baoyu; naturally, I must summon you for questioning.”

Hearing the harshness and chill in Wang Xifeng's words, Xiren became even more terrified.

Thinking of the tightly closed gates that were immediately closed upon admission, the two young women guarding the gate, and Lin Zhixiao's wife, who exuded a chill.

She already understood seven or eight parts of the situation. Could it be that the Second Mistress really knew about what the Second Master did in the side room? What was going to happen...?

Wang Xifeng asked, "Xiren, you watch over Baoyu every day. Let me ask you, have Baoyu and Xia's maid Baochan been having an affair for a long time?"

……

Xi Ren's face turned pale instantly, and she said tremblingly, "What are you saying, Second Madam? Miss Xia is the betrothed Second Madam Bao."

How could Second Master have anything to do with her maid? Absolutely not. Someone is gossiping to Second Madam, and if this gets out, it will ruin Second Master's reputation.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng raised her eyebrows, her phoenix eyes flashing with fierceness, and coldly said, "You care about your second master's reputation, but what he did was utterly shameless!"

Xiren hurriedly said, "Second Madam, there really is no such thing. Second Master and Baochan have never had any dealings."

Wang Xifeng pulled out something and threw it at Xiren's face, shouting, "Look carefully at what this is! How dare you lie to my face!"

Xiren picked up the item and saw that it was Baoyu's personal purse. She had noticed it was missing when she helped Baoyu change his clothes yesterday, and she hadn't expected it to fall into the hands of the Second Mistress...

She suddenly realized something, her whole body trembled slightly, and she even became unsteady on her feet.

Wang Xifeng sneered, "Someone found Baoyu's purse in the east wing of the inner courtyard, and also found a woman's earring there."

There was also the hair of a vulgar woman. When Aunt Lin questioned the maids and servants in the inner courtyard, someone immediately recognized the earring as belonging to Baochan, a maid from the Xia family.

Wang Xifeng twirled her earring with her fingers, her face full of contempt and disdain, and laughed, "If you're going to do something despicable, you should know how to clean up the mess."

And yet, he left behind these incriminating clues. He wouldn't even know how to be a thief properly. Since he's incapable of anything, he should have just kept to himself and avoided making a fool of himself!

When Xiren heard Wang Xifeng's veiled insults and extremely vicious words, she thought of Baoyu and felt ashamed and heartbroken, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

……

Wang Xifeng sneered, "Their personal belongings are left in a side room that even ghosts don't go to."

Don't tell me you don't know what they're up to!
The Jia family was a prominent clan, renowned for its scholarly lineage. Yet, a member of their concubine's family, holding a high-ranking position in the government, was found guilty of adultery within the inner palace, a grave crime against the clan, and utterly lawless!
Your actions are disgraceful and a disgrace to our ancestors. Do you intend to ruin the Jia family? What good will that do you?
The old lady assigned you to Baoyu so that you would serve and guide him properly. It's fine that you haven't offered any advice or guidance.

Now that he has done such a despicable thing and left evidence everywhere, even several mouths can be shut up.

You actually covered for him and lied to him. Do you think everyone in the mansion is blind, or do you think I'm easy to fool?

You are incredibly audacious, showing absolutely no respect for family rules and etiquette. For this one offense alone, I would beat you to death without the old lady uttering a single word.

Since you're unwilling to admit it, I can let it go, but this matter is too big for me to suppress.

Since I can't handle it, I'll just report this to Brother Cong, the old lady, and the second master to discuss it.

They have more insight and ideas than I do, saving me the trouble of being the bad guy. This suits your purposes perfectly! (End of Chapter)