Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

On the fourth day of the first month of the sixteenth year of the Jiazhao reign, at the Rongguo Mansion, in the Rongqing Hall.

Outside, snow was falling in the clear sky, and breath turned to ice, but inside, it was warm as spring.

The brazier glowed red, burning with fine silver frost charcoal, pine and cypress incense, and lily grass, its warmth rising and its fragrance spreading far and wide.

After having breakfast in the early morning, Grandmother Jia had no visitors yet, as it was still early and she was enjoying a leisurely time.

She leaned back on the chaise longue, her eyes half-closed, as Yuanyang massaged her legs with a beauty mallet, enjoying the moment in a very languid manner.

The bright red brocade curtain at the entrance of the hall was lifted, and Madam Wang stepped into the hall. Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "You've arrived early today."

Madam Wang looked tired, and her smile was a little stiff. She said, "I came early to pay my respects to the old lady, and I have something important to tell you."

……

Yesterday, Wang Xifeng seized upon Baoyu's weakness and spoke in a way that was utterly impenetrable, leaving no room for negotiation.

Madam Wang couldn't sleep soundly all night, racking her brains but to no avail.

She knew that Wang Xifeng was ruthless and had sealed off all avenues; as long as she didn't give in, Wang Xifeng would definitely kill her and her son, Baoyu.

Wang Xifeng had many ways to prevent the matter from escalating and damaging the Jia family's reputation. As long as the master found out about it, Baoyu would suffer greatly.

Now that things had come to this, Lady Wang had no choice but to swallow her anger. After thinking about it for a long time last night, she reluctantly went to talk to Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Lady Wang and asked, "You don't look well. You're almost fifty. You should take better care of yourself as you get older."

Once Baoyu gets married and starts his own family, you'll have less to worry about. Living a peaceful and stable life in a large mansion is the most important thing. Don't think too much about anything else; it's useless to overthink it.

You said you had something important to say, what is it?

……

Madam Wang forced a smile and said, "Grandma, Baoyu will be getting married in March, and he will be moving to the East Courtyard then."

I figured we'd have to move sooner or later, so I might as well get things done early to avoid any last-minute panic. I wanted Baoyu to move in by the fifth day of the month.

Upon hearing this, the mandarin ducks standing nearby were also startled.

Yuanyang served Grandmother Jia daily, and she was often present when Lady Wang stirred up trouble in front of Grandmother Jia.

She was well aware of Madam Wang's scheme, which was nothing more than using the Second Master Bao to stay in the West Mansion and get the Second Branch involved in the West Mansion's business.

Why did the second wife suddenly change her tune and actually agree to let Master Bao move out of the West Mansion? And why is she in such a hurry to move out on the fifth day of the new year? Has the sun risen in the west?
However, Yuanyang felt quite at ease knowing that Baoyu was able to leave the West Mansion, as it saved her from staring at him intently every time she met him, looking rather vulgar and foolish.

Upon hearing Lady Wang's words, Grandmother Jia was startled and said, "Why did you suddenly think of Baoyu moving out? The wedding is still two months away, why rush things like this?"

When Lady Wang saw that Grandmother Jia was reluctant to part with Baoyu, she felt relieved and pleased. She really wanted to say something from her heart, hoping that Baoyu would stay for a long time.

Just thinking about Wang Xifeng's behavior yesterday—her words were harsh, sharp, and treacherous—she knew that if he wanted to change his mind, she would never give up!

Thinking of these things, she felt resentful and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

She said, "Grandma, everyone knows about Baoyu's marriage to the Xia family. During the holidays, many relatives and friends visit, and there are always some who don't know the details."

Seeing that Baoyu was still living in the West Mansion, those gossipy people would surely stir up some rumors, so they wanted to get Baoyu moved out as soon as possible, so that things would be cleaner inside and out.

Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "This is a family matter. Why care about what others say? Besides, even if we are staying here, it will only be for two months."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's heart stirred slightly, and she was about to say something.

……

The voice of the gatekeeper maid came from the main hall: "Third Master and the young ladies have arrived."

The words that were on the tip of Madam Wang's tongue were swallowed back down, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Then the curtain at the door was lifted, and Jia Cong led his sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, Tanchun, Xiangyun, Xiuyan, and Xichun in.

Everyone bowed and greeted Grandmother Jia. After they were seated, a maid came to serve tea. Yingchun and the others chatted for a while, and then Lady Wang was left out in the cold.

Grandmother Jia said, "Cong-ge'er, Madam was just telling me that she wants to move Bao-yu back to the East Courtyard as soon as possible, and plans to move him away on the fifth day of the month. What do you think?"

Jia Cong was not surprised at all upon hearing this.

Because Ping'er returned to the East Mansion last night and told Jia Cong all about Wang Xifeng's methods of handling affairs and the results of various responses.

He knew that Wang Xifeng was shrewd and capable, and that she had forced Madam Wang to comply. On the fifth day of the month, he had Baoyu move out quickly.

Today, when he went to Rongqing Hall to pay his respects, since Grandmother Jia always favored Baoyu, she would most likely bring up this matter.

He had been prepared for this for a long time, so he naturally wanted to solidify the matter and get rid of Baoyu as soon as possible so that the West Mansion could get rid of trouble and problems sooner.

He said, "The Second Madam has made a good decision. According to the family rules, the Second Branch will live in the East Courtyard, and Huan'er, Lan'er and other children will serve the Master."

Since the eldest brother, Xianzhu, has passed away, Baoyu is the eldest son of the second branch of the family. He should set an example for the younger brothers of this branch and should not neglect filial piety and etiquette.

Originally, they were temporarily staying in the West Mansion to fulfill their filial duty to the old lady, but now that Baoyu is about to get married, they will not be able to move back to the West Mansion until March.

Outsiders might not think it looks good, feeling that Baoyu is lax in his filial duties and unwilling to serve his parents early on, which is not a good thing.

Our Jia family is a prominent clan, unlike ordinary families. We place the patriarchal laws and etiquette on the highest priority.

Moreover, it is currently the New Year season, and relatives from different families are frequently visiting each other. There are often noblewomen from the maternal family coming and going in the inner courtyard, making it a time when there are many people and much gossip.

The second wife's actions were extremely sensible; she wanted Baoyu to cherish his virtue and ensure that he would be without fault in the eyes of outsiders. It was truly an excellent idea.

We'll move to the East Courtyard on the fifth day of the lunar new year. The timeframe is a bit rushed, but it's not a big deal. Let Second Sister-in-law arrange more manpower so that Baoyu doesn't have to worry about the relocation.

The east courtyard is a partition from the west mansion; traveling between the two places for a short while, such as Baoyu paying his respects to the old lady, is just a small matter of walking a few extra steps.

……

Yingchun's heart was filled with love for her brother Jia Cong, and she had long been alienated from and disgusted by Baoyu's various despicable acts.

Now that Baoyu has moved out of the West Mansion, her brother's house and surroundings will be spared a lot of trouble and disputes. How could she not be willing to do so? Naturally, she would stand up for her brother.

He laughed and said, "Brother Cong is absolutely right. Brother Bao is already an adult now that he has gotten married and started his own family. He should move back to the East Courtyard to serve the Second Master and Second Madam."

This shows the family's proper etiquette, commendable filial piety, and abundant blessings for the household. They are sure to have a bright future, and all the sisters should go and present it.

Daiyu was very willing to let Baoyu move out of the West Mansion. In the future, when she visited the West Mansion, she could pay her respects to her maternal grandmother without worrying about Baoyu getting involved with her.

Shi Xiangyun has always been outspoken. Whenever Baoyu says or does something inappropriate, she will speak her mind without hesitation, and arguments and disputes are common.

However, she rarely took things to heart, and Baoyu didn't dare to provoke her, so she didn't have any ill feelings towards Baoyu. She just felt that he lived in his cousin's house for many years, which made him feel somewhat ashamed.

Therefore, Xiangyun felt that it was a matter of proper etiquette for Baoyu to move out of the West Mansion, and naturally agreed with it.

As for Xing Xiuyan's indifferent impression of Baoyu, when she first came to the Jia family, she was greeted by Baoyu when she entered Rongqing Hall to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia.

After that, she settled in the East Mansion. Because she was a relative of the Jia family, unlike her sisters such as Yingchun and Daiyu, she did not go to Rongqing Hall to pay her respects every day.

Therefore, she rarely met Baoyu, and whether he lived in the West Mansion was none of her business, nor did she care at all.

Xi Chun was still young and childish, so Bao Yu rarely showed her any affection, and she was not close to Bao Yu either.

I felt that my second brother liked to act silly, often making me lose face, and he also liked to talk behind my back about my third brother. He was really not likable.

For Xichun, her third brother was the most important, while her second brother was not so important.

Only Tan Chun harbored suspicions. Usually, Madam Baoyu was eager for Baoyu to be in the West Mansion, so why was she acting so strangely today? There must be a reason...

……

After hearing Jia Cong's words, Grandmother Jia greatly agreed with Baoyu's decision to move out on the fifth day of the month, and even offered a series of reasons that were irrefutable.

The old lady regretted asking Jia Cong for advice. With his reasoning, if Baoyu didn't move out immediately, he would seem like a bad person...

Moreover, the sisters Yingchun and Daiyu all agreed, which made Grandmother Jia feel very helpless. She originally thought her granddaughters would try to persuade her to stay, but the result was quite different.

Is it true that Baoyu is not well-liked if he stays in the West Mansion? Is he really that unpopular among his sisters? In any case, there is no way to avoid it if Baoyu moves away.

Although Grandmother Jia was very disappointed, Jia Cong said: "The East Courtyard is separated from the West Mansion, and it only takes a short time to go back and forth between the two places."

She took the opportunity to put aside her worries. It was only a matter of time before Baoyu got married and moved away. In any case, seeing her beloved grandson would be very convenient...

……

Lady Wang listened to Jia Cong's words, which were all about filial piety and etiquette, and spoke in a very high-sounding manner.

In fact, he and Feng Yatou were in cahoots, racking their brains to drive Baoyu out of the West Mansion. Perhaps Feng Yatou was the one who instigated him.

This kid has read a lot of books, but his mind is full of treachery and cunning. His behavior is so despicable and hateful. How can he be worthy of being a Hanlin Academician?

Madam Wang was furious and was about to say a few sarcastic remarks to vent her anger when suddenly the curtain at the door was lifted and Wang Xifeng entered with a smile.

Madam Wang was momentarily startled, and the words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down, feeling truly humiliated.

Wang Xifeng glanced at Madam Wang and smiled, "Second Madam, you've arrived very early today. Did you talk to the Old Madam about that matter?"

Madam Wang felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer. This girl Feng was really pressing her step by step, and she bluntly exposed her flaws right in front of the old lady.

She's driving him to suicide, leaving him no chance to breathe, blatantly and mercilessly.

……

Jia Cong said, "Second sister-in-law, your arrival is quite timely. Second Madam was just talking to the old lady about having Baoyu move back to the East Courtyard on the fifth day of the month."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "As expected of the Second Madam, Baoyu is now an adult and it is time for him to serve his parents."

I will immediately arrange enough people to help Baoyu pack his things. He won't need to worry about anything. I guarantee he'll be moved to the East Courtyard safely by the fifth day of the new year.

Grandmother Jia was completely bewildered, feeling as if she had been struck by a ghost. The two women, brother and sister-in-law, were singing in unison, leaving no room for anyone else to intervene. Lady Wang, filled with grief and indignation, felt as if her hands and feet were bound. Without asking any questions, she was brutally beaten until she could no longer move.

In order to save face and avoid angering Wang Xifeng, she had to pretend to be kind and amiable, so as to maintain the demeanor of a dignified elder.

…………

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu Courtyard.

After Xiren returned yesterday, Baoyu naturally asked her why, and Xiren inwardly resented Baoyu for causing trouble.

It is said that his affair with Baochan has been discovered by the Second Mistress, and even the Third Master of the East Mansion has heard the news.

Second Madam was furious about this matter, worried that if word got out, it would ruin the reputation of the women in the inner courtyard of the West Mansion.

I've already asked my wife to discuss it with him, urging him to move out of the West Mansion as soon as possible to avoid giving anyone cause for gossip.

Xiren originally intended to give Baoyu a warning, hoping that he would restrain himself from causing trouble again.

Unexpectedly, when Baoyu heard that they had moved out of the West Mansion, he immediately started making a scene, crying and shouting that he wanted to reason with the old lady.

Xiren was terrified by him. Fearing that she would make a scene and give the Second Madam an excuse to lash out, she was even more determined to retaliate. Who could stop her?

She dared not mention the plan to move out on the fifth day of the lunar new year, lest Baoyu lose his mind upon hearing it and act erratically, which might cause the mistress to take her anger out on her.

So he used soft words to suppress Baoyu, saying that if he made a scene now and the master heard about it and found out that he was messing around with his maternal maid, he would definitely get a good beating.

Upon hearing this, Baoyu instantly became clear-headed and dared not make any noise. He just sighed and tossed and turned all night before finally falling asleep in the middle of the night.

……

The next day at dawn, Baoyu got up in a daze, intending to go to Rongqing Hall to find Grandmother Jia.

However, Xiren firmly stopped him, telling him not to act rashly and lest things escalate, and to wait for his wife to arrive before discussing the matter further.

Although Baoyu was extremely anxious, he was worried that Jia Zheng would find out, so he could only patiently wait for Lady Wang to come over.

Thinking that his wife had always doted on him, he begged her to come up with a plan so that he could at least stay in the West Mansion.

Otherwise, not only would she find it difficult to see her sisters again, but Lin Daiyu and Baochai would also become increasingly distant, and she would have to live under the master's thumb from then on. How could she possibly survive like that?

Baoyu was restless in his room, pacing back and forth like a trapped beast. Thinking of the sad things, he burst into tears, hating the cruelty of the world.

Baochan was originally Xia's personal maid, and she will definitely become a maid in her dowry, eventually becoming her own concubine.

He had only been intimate with his wife earlier than expected, merely playing with the people in his own household, yet his second sister-in-law made such a fuss about it, even wanting to kick him out of the West Mansion.

How can people be so heartless these days? I treated them with all my heart, with a pure and gentle heart, and with sincerity, yet they showed me no pity whatsoever.

My second sister-in-law is also a first-class woman. How could she not know her own merits? She only uses some absurd and pedantic excuses to persecute and humiliate herself. How can she live with that?

……

Baoyu was filled with grief and indignation, lost in thought and in a daze. Suddenly, he heard footsteps outside the door and saw his wife enter the room.

He felt increasingly aggrieved and cried out, "Madam, you've finally come! I'm perfectly fine in the West Mansion. Why is my second sister-in-law forcing me to move out? Madam, you must stand up for me!"

Lady Wang had just suffered enough from Jia Cong and Wang Xifeng's temper in Rongqing Hall, and was filled with resentment that she could not vent.

Seeing that Baoyu still had the audacity to stay in the West Mansion, she thought, "If only I had known this would happen, why did I do it in the first place? My son is so disappointing."

He angrily said, "Shut up! You're so useless. Xi Ren and Cai Yun are both top-class people. They serve you wholeheartedly. Isn't that enough?"

Why did you have to provoke the Xia family girl? If you wanted to provoke her, fine, but you didn't know any better than to mess around in the side room of the West Mansion.

You've left behind a bunch of incriminating evidence against them, and now that you've caused such a scandal, what else can you say?

If I hadn't managed to keep Feng'er in check, and the master had found out the truth, you would have been in serious trouble!
If the Xia family hears this, they will definitely break off the marriage. If you ruin your reputation because of this, how will you ever be able to live your life?

There's no other way now. We'll move back to the East Courtyard tomorrow and wait out this storm. This matter will only settle down after the wedding in March.

There's no room for negotiation. If you dare to cause trouble again, I'll have the master teach you a lesson. I won't care if he skins you alive..."

……

Baoyu originally wanted to make a scene, but because his wife doted on him, he was sure he could stay in the West Mansion.

Unexpectedly, this time the mistress was really angry. Although Baoyu was extremely saddened, he dared not say another word.

Lady Wang said to Xiren, "Keep a close eye on Baoyu. He is not allowed to leave the courtyard today. If he causes any more trouble, I will hold you responsible!"

Xiren quickly lowered her head and obediently agreed, but then she heard a jumble of footsteps outside.

She hurried to the door to check and saw that Lin Zhixiao's wife had brought two old women and three maids, entering the courtyard in a grand procession.

Xiren suddenly remembered the day when the Second Master smashed the antiques, and Lin Zhixiao's family did the same thing, confiscating all the remaining antiques in the Second Master's room.

Even now, the thought still sends shivers down my spine. Could it be that before Second Master has even moved out, Lin Zhixiao's family is already getting out of control...?

Seeing this scene, Madam Wang felt somewhat uneasy. Her niece was a real troublemaker, capable of anything.

But then Lin Zhixiao's wife smiled and said, "Second Madam, since Second Master Bao is moving back to the East Courtyard tomorrow, Second Madam is worried that there are too many things for him to pack and there won't be enough people to help him."

I was specially asked to bring five maids and servants. The young lady was to help the Second Master with his greetings. Just use them as you please, and they will be ready for the Second Master before sunset.

Second Madam has also arranged for carriages and horses; they will be there again tomorrow morning to load all the belongings onto the carriages, so Second Master won't have to worry about the move at all.

Lin Zhixiao's wife was all smiles, even appearing very attentive, but Madam Wang was so angry that she was trembling all over.

If it weren't for fear of Wang Xifeng's methods and the possibility that she would mistreat her own Baoyu, Madam Wang would definitely not have been able to suppress her anger and would have made a huge scene on the spot.

In the end, she left the courtyard with a gloomy face and without saying a word; she truly couldn't stay there for even a moment longer.

……

On the fourth day of the first month of the sixteenth year of the Jiazhao reign, in Xuanfu Town.

The world was desolate, and the cold wind was biting. Inside and outside the city walls of Xuanfu Town, the sounds of battle were deafening, and the air was filled with the glint of swords and the rain of blood, making it seem like a hellish scene.

On the towering city walls, dense ladders were erected, and countless Mongol soldiers swarmed like ants, risking their lives to climb to the top of the walls.

The city walls were guarded by a dense number of Zhou soldiers, who used swords, spears, bows and arrows, poles, and stones to desperately kill the enemy troops who climbed up the walls.

Shouts of battle, screams of agony, and the clash of weapons echoed throughout the heavens and earth. Mutilated corpses and wailing wounded were everywhere on the city walls.

Many of the ladders used to climb the city walls were overturned by Zhou's army with poles, and the Mongol soldiers on the ladders fell from the sky, breaking their bones and getting bloodied and mangled.

But more Mongol soldiers used ladders to scale the city walls, attempting to breach the defenses.

However, in both attacking and defending a city, the attacking side is always at a disadvantage at the beginning of a war.

With the defenders still possessing momentum and sufficient manpower, the Mongol soldiers who climbed the city walls were completely outnumbered.

Although the enemy troops who scaled the city walls were all brave and fierce, they still could not stop the Zhou army that swarmed up. It was only a matter of time before they were annihilated, but the Zhou army also paid a price for it.

As the siege drags on and lives are lost on both sides, the defenders' advantage will gradually be eroded...

……

Guo Zhigui was covered in blood, and he steadily swung his steel-reinforced goose-feather saber, slashing and hacking away, with Mongol soldiers dying under his blade from time to time.

His swordsmanship was far less intricate and unpredictable than Jia Cong's; it was something he honed through rigorous training with veteran soldiers after joining the Five Armies Camp.

Although the moves are simple and unadorned, they are very practical and effective, all of which are combat and killing techniques.

The two musketeers who came with him flanked him on either side, and the three of them formed a defensive triangle to fight against the Mongol soldiers who climbed onto the city wall.

Of the three, Hou Liang was the most active, wielding his steel saber with lightning speed and unstoppable force. He also killed the most Mongol soldiers.

He came from a family of martial arts practitioners and was one of the best in the army. Guo Zhigui brought him along specifically as a precaution.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Guo Zhigui knocked on the city gate to report the enemy's situation, but in the end, he was still a step too late.

As soon as the three of them entered the city, the Mongol army suddenly arrived and, with an overwhelming numerical advantage, surrounded Xuanfu Town from three sides, launching an immediate siege.

All the garrison troops in Xuanfu Town were rotated to defend the city walls, and Guo Zhigui and two others were also called up.

The Mongol army had been besieging the city for two days, and the three men were rotated twice to climb the city walls to block the enemy from killing them.

Fortunately, all three were veterans of battle, having fought alongside Jia Cong against the Jurchens, and were seasoned warriors who had experienced countless battles.

Guo Zhigui and Xu Fuhui, both spearmen, were skilled in martial arts, but Hou Liang's skills far surpassed those of ordinary people.

The three fought on the city walls twice, facing several perilous situations, but thanks to Hou Liang's support from the center, they were able to escape unscathed each time.

This siege lasted for more than an hour. By the time the Mongols sounded the retreat, the city walls and surrounding areas were littered with corpses.

The heavy stench of blood seemed to freeze the air, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Guo Zhigui and the others were exhausted, so they slumped down on the city wall to catch their breath and rest.

Hou Liang asked, "Commander, do you think Xuanfu Town can be defended?"

Guo Zhigui sighed, "If we have enough food and supplies, and the court sends reinforcements in time, we can naturally hold out."

However, the Mongols occupied the military granary in Donggang Town on New Year's Eve, cutting off the grain supply to Xuanfu Town.

Yesterday, I heard from Colonel Chen that the Mongol troops inside the pass have moved north and blocked the rear route of Xuanfu Town.

If I'm not mistaken, this ambush force must have come from Donggang Town. Under these circumstances, it will be difficult to hold Xuanfu Town..." (End of Chapter)