Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, the Dali Temple government office, Yang Hongbin's official residence.

Yang Hongbin looked at the handkerchief spread out on the table, inside which were dark red, shriveled foods that emitted a faint fishy and muttony smell.

His investigation and speculation over the past few days were finally confirmed. He quickly organized his thoughts and integrated the causes and consequences.
Zhou Ping said, "Sir, we have been watching Duan Chunjiang for many days, and he has not shown any flaws. Unexpectedly, a dish of food has made him give himself away."

However, there is one thing I don't know: I have been keeping an eye on Duan Chunjiang for many days.

Whether in appearance, mannerisms, clothing, or daily routines, they are no different from Han Chinese, and not at all like Mongols.

He mingled among the common people, just like any other ordinary Han Chinese.

He also speaks fluent Mandarin; how could someone who grew up in the desert speak it so fluently?

Yang Hongbin pondered for a moment and said, "This is not surprising. Back then, when Emperor Taizu attacked Dadu, the last emperor of the Yuan Dynasty was assassinated."

As the remnants of the Yuan dynasty fled north, many high-ranking Han officials also fled north with their families.

These people then multiplied in the northern desert. It is said that they were all of Han descent and intermarried, rarely intermarrying with the remaining Mongol tribes, and their families passed down Han learning and speaking.

It is likely that Duan Chunjiang came from such a family, so it is not surprising that his appearance, speech and behavior were no different from ordinary Han people.

Originally, these Han Chinese who fled north had all vanished without a trace. Now, with the Great Zhou and the remnants of the Mongol Empire at war, these people have become a scourge, infiltrating everywhere and impossible to guard against.

Zhou Ping said, "Sir, now that we've deduced that Duan Chunjiang is a Mongol, he's definitely involved in the major case of the military depot leak. Should we close the net?"

Yang Hongbin shook his head and said, "The closer we get to this point, the less we should alert the enemy."

With the army now on its way and news circulating freely within the city, it's truly impossible to defend against them.

Catching just one is useless; we can only eliminate the whole group to prevent future troubles. So we need to remain calm for now.

However, Duan Chunjiang must be closely monitored. All his relatives, friends, and business associates must be registered and thoroughly investigated. No one should be let off the hook!
For example, Xue Pan, although he was a playboy and didn't seem like someone who could accomplish anything, had an extremely wide circle of friends, and his associates were all sons of nobles and officials in the capital.

Many of these young men hold military positions, which, upon closer examination, presents a rather troublesome situation.

Yang Hongbin sighed and said, "Now that we've set our sights on him, we need to be extra careful, both inside and out."

Zhou Ping sensed that Shangguan's words were hesitant, as if they contained an unclear meaning and a hint of inexplicable concern.

Suddenly, a thought struck him: Yang Sizheng and Marquis Weiyuan, Jia Cong, were close friends, a fact known to many in the capital.

In terms of blood ties, Xue Pan could be related to Jia Cong, otherwise why would he have lived in the Jia family for so many years? This put Yang Sizheng in a somewhat difficult position...

……

Yang Hongbin said, "We've been watching Duan Chunjiang for many days, and apart from that dish of food, he hasn't shown any weakness."

This shows that this person is extremely cautious. I have said that if he were to steal military and state secrets, he might not take direct action.

Most of the time, they succeeded only through indirect persuasion from others.

Apart from Chen Ruichang, among the people Duan Chunjiang regularly associated with, Xue Pan was an unemployed young man who knew nothing of the secrets of the government and military.

We have also investigated the backgrounds of the other merchants who had dealings with Duan Chunjiang, and so far we have not found anything suspicious.

But that woman in Huarong Lane, I always felt like there was something going on behind her back.

This woman was also from Datong. According to the documents you checked in the government office, she arrived in the capital only half a month later than Duan Chunjiang.

Based on the current investigation results, this woman is the most suspicious among the people who associate with Duan Chunjiang.

Spend the next couple of days walking around Huarong Lane and see if you make any new discoveries.

I will not be in the yamen tomorrow morning; I will be seeing someone off. If I find anything during the investigation, I will discuss it with the officials after 9:00 AM…

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongxi Hall.

Yu Chuan paced back and forth in the east wing, wearing an indigo satin vest with floral patterns, a light blue square-necked stand-up collar jacket, and a light blue embroidered long skirt.

With a slender waist and a blush on her pretty face, she was tidying up her clothes and dressing case, neatly arranging them in her trunk, and then had her servant roll up her bedding.

At this moment, Xiao Hong entered the room and helped Yu Chuan pack her things.

He said, "You're really in a bind now, moving to the East Mansion and leaving me all alone again."

Yu Chuan laughed and said, "The Second Master gave me to the Third Master. The Third Master is about to go to war, so the Second Miss asked me to move over first. But the Second Master was just going through the motions."

Even now, Third Master isn't home, just like I am in Rongxi Hall.

You are now a head maid in Rongxi Hall, no better than me, the maid who serves tea and water. What more could you possibly want?

Sister Ping'er said that since Third Master is away on a campaign, his daily life there is quite relaxed, so it's fine for him to travel back and forth.

I'll come over and talk to you whenever I have time, so you won't be all alone. Master Bao has already moved out of the West Mansion, so there's no need to worry about him coming and going; it's nothing to worry about."

……

These days, Yu Chuan is temporarily staying in Rongxi Hall, sharing a room with Xiao Hong. She also practices calligraphy with Jia Cong every day, and they have developed quite a bond.

This morning, when Yingchun left Rongqing Hall, she passed Rongxi Hall and thought of Yuchuan. Because Jia Cong often stayed in the West Mansion during the New Year, Yuchuan was temporarily staying in Rongxi Hall to serve him.

Yu Chuan was a maidservant given to her brother by the second master. As a maidservant bestowed by the elders in the mansion, she was somewhat different from others and could not be neglected too much.

Now that Congdi is about to go to war, and we don't know how long he will be gone, it doesn't seem appropriate to have his personal maid stay in Rongxi Hall.

So he sent Xiuju to deliver a message, telling Yuchuan to move back to the East Mansion today, and also to have Sheyue arrange accommodation for her.

Xiao Hong laughed and said, "I'll remember what you said. You and Mushe have both gone to the East Mansion, so don't forget about me."

However, you said that even though Master Bao moved to the East Courtyard, he still visits often because Caixia is still living here and is pregnant.

Although things are cleaner than before, all entanglements need to be cleared up, and the matter won't truly be settled until Caixia's child is born and Bao Erye is officially married.

……

Yu Chuan had served Lady Wang since childhood and knew her temperament and behavior very well, but she was not as clear-headed and simple as Xiao Hong.

She had a vague feeling that Caixia was taking care of her pregnancy at the West Mansion, and that this matter wouldn't be easy to resolve.

Grandma always dotes on her grandchildren and loves the lively atmosphere of Gaole. It's possible that after Caixia's child is born, she might keep the baby by her side.

If this is truly how things are going to be done, the Second Madam would certainly be very willing, using this as an excuse to get involved with the West Mansion.

Ordinary maids, with their limited perspectives, are not as astute as Wang Xifeng and would never have considered this meaning.

But Yu Chuan was a clever maid who had served Lady Wang for many years and knew her temperament well, so she could vaguely guess what she meant.

She could think of it in her heart, but she wouldn't tell Xiao Hong. After all, it involved the entanglement between the two families, and she naturally wouldn't say it casually.

……

Xiao Hong said, "I went out to run some errands just now and saw the Second Master enter Rongqing Hall from afar. His expression was not very good."

I overheard a passing maid say that the Second Madam and Baoyu arrived early this morning; I wonder what kind of trouble they've gotten themselves into this time.

Yu Chuan laughed and said, "Sister is just worrying unnecessarily. As long as Second Master is present, Second Master Bao will be like a mouse seeing a cat, and he will definitely not dare to cause trouble."

I've seen this all these years, it's nothing new. Just wait and see, nothing will happen.

The two chatted casually as they quickly packed their things. Yu Chuan carried a small package, and Xiao Hong accompanied her out, while the two old women carried the clothes chests behind them.

After they left Rongxi Hall, walked along the covered walkway for a while, and passed a fork in the road in the garden, they heard footsteps behind them.

Yu Chuan and Xiao Hong turned around and saw that a lot of people were coming from behind. Leading them was the Second Master Jia Zheng, but his face was gloomy and he seemed to still be angry.

The two were somewhat surprised. Why was the Second Master so angry when he came to the West Mansion? But when they saw that Lady Wang and Baoyu were following behind him, they roughly understood.

These days, Yu Chuan stays in Rongxi Hall. When Jia Cong comes, she serves him tea, or practices calligraphy in her spare time. She hardly ever goes outside.

After the fifth day, Baoyu came to visit, but Yuchuan didn't see him once. She saw that he was still dressed in bright red, and his waist was becoming more and more plump.

His face was filled with sorrow and depression, revealing a familiar sense of grief and indignation. Only his left cheek was swollen and red, with a clear handprint and five faint marks.

……

When Yu Chuan saw Jia Zheng approaching, she and Xiao Hong stopped and stepped aside to greet him.

Although Jia Zheng was furious, his expression softened a bit when he saw Yu Chuan bow. He noticed that Yu Chuan was carrying a bundle, with an old woman carrying a box behind her.

I asked casually, "Where are you going?"

Yu Chuan said, "The Second Miss sent word that I should move back to the East Mansion today."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang noticed that Yu Chuan's pretty face was flushed, her eyes seemed to be filled with joy, and she looked even more beautiful. She could tell that Yu Chuan must be very pleased about moving to the East Mansion.

She couldn't help but feel disgusted. How long had that brat been gone? Yet she was already behaving like this, with her eyes and brows frivolous and lewd. She had most likely already been taken advantage of by that boy.

Jia Zheng said, "Go to the East Mansion and serve Cong-ge'er well. He will have a good future. After all, he is from the second branch of the family. I think that's respectable."

Yu Chuan blushed slightly and said, "Yu Chuan will definitely serve Third Master well."

Hearing this exchange, Baoyu looked at the delicate and beautiful Yuchuan and felt an unbearable pang of sorrow in his heart. His face burned with pain and he lost consciousness for a moment.

The most beautiful maids in the lady's room that day were the sisters Jin Chuan and Yu Chuan.

He had tried to flirt with Yu Chuan many times, but she was like an unpryable clam. Although she was pretty and lovely, she was completely oblivious to his advances, which made Bao Yu very regretful.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she entered Jia Cong's room, her eyes lit up with joy, a stark contrast to her usual stiff and icy demeanor. She was originally a woman of exceptional beauty and intelligence, yet she had become so worldly-wise.

Baoyu naturally understood the meaning behind the master's words: when an elder bestows a maid upon a younger person, the maid is usually to serve in the maid's room.

Jia Cong, that lecherous and greedy scoundrel, is about to ruin another beautiful young woman. He is truly despicable. Heaven must be against him.

……

Jia Zheng greeted Yu Chuan once and then stepped out of the mansion again. Suddenly, he noticed that there were fewer footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Bao Yu standing there in a daze.

His face showed a blank expression, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed. He shouted, "You beast, what are you standing there for? Are you going to stay here and make a fool of yourself!" Baoyu was filled with sorrow and grief, but Jia Zheng exposed his true feelings with a single word. In front of Yuchuan and Xiaohong, he felt ashamed and embarrassed, and wished he could die.

He felt sorry for himself, and as a son, he could only endure the beatings and scoldings from his master.

But the master really doesn't understand himself. He always humiliates himself in front of the young women, making them look down on him. What good does that do him?

Watching Jia Zheng, Baoyu, and the others leave, Xiaohong said, "Yuchuan, why does Baoyu have such a face? He looks so disgusting."

Yu Chuan said nonchalantly, "That's not surprising. She must have been disobedient again, done something disrespectful, and got beaten by the master again."

I've seen this a lot over the years, it's nothing new. Little Red, don't worry about it, we need to go back and sort things out first.

…………

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

As the sun sets in the west, the afterglow fades, and the sky grows dark.

Although it was the last day before the expedition, Jia Cong was still busy until dawn.

Although he was the first person to advocate firearms in the Great Zhou Dynasty, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent in the face of such a large-scale firearms army going on an expedition.

Others regarded him as an expert, but in fact, he also figured out and learned many of the pre-war preparations by trial and error.

Although he had an impressive record of leading firearms troops in Liaodong, the Liaodong firearms battalion had only a thousand men, making it far less difficult to command than a force of six thousand.

At that time, the Liaodong Thousand-Man Firearms Battalion had the entire Liaodong Army as its backing, so he didn't need to worry too much about many logistical matters.

He also had key figures in the firearms army under his command, such as Captain Wei Yongzhou and Squad Leader Guo Zhigui, which made it even easier for him to lead his troops.

Moreover, when he first arrived at the Liaodong Army, he served as the army's firearms staff officer and personally trained the firearms battalion. The officers and soldiers were familiar with each other and had an extraordinary understanding.

These advantages are not available to the current 6,000-strong Divine Machine Battalion under his command, so the preparations before the expedition must be even more meticulous and thorough.

Fortunately, by now, everything Jia Cong could plan and calculate has been fully implemented to the best of his ability, and he was confident before setting off.

……

He entered the inner courtyard of the East Mansion. It was already getting dark. Lanterns were lit one after another under the covered corridors. The red and bright lights gave off a warm feeling.

Upon entering their own courtyard, they found the main hall brightly lit, with Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters gathered together, their skirts embroidered, their faces like lotus blossoms, and the air filled with the fragrance of incense.

Even Baochai, who is usually not in the East Mansion in the evenings, was with her sisters today, accompanied by her maid Jinchuan.

A banquet had already been set up in the main room, with a dazzling array of cold dishes, both meat and vegetarian, as well as several jugs of fine wine.

The sisters must have arranged a farewell banquet and have been waiting for him in the hall for a long time.

Jia Cong suddenly realized that Miaoyu was the only one missing from the scene, which explained why there was no taboo about food and drink.

It seems that today's farewell, Miaoyu, being a person outside the secular world, did not want to disturb the sisters' mood due to Buddhist taboos.

When Yingchun saw Jia Cong return, she asked Xiuju to announce the start of the feast. After a short while, maids filed in from outside the courtyard, and various hot dishes were served.

Although it was a farewell banquet for a departing soldier, the sisters seemed to have a tacit understanding beforehand and did not say any words of farewell. They only talked about everyday things during the meal, just like a family gathering as usual.

Midway through the banquet, Shi Xiangyun suggested playing a drinking game, and the other sisters joined in. However, since Jia Cong was going to war the next day, they didn't dare let him drink too much.

Each time Jia Cong lost a game of finger-guessing, he was only allowed to drink a little. Shi Xiangyun became increasingly generous and her finger-guessing skills were also very good.

She always won when she played rock-paper-scissors with Jia Cong, and she was always overjoyed when she won.

She was exceptionally decisive when it came to drinking. If she lost a game, she would down a glass of wine in one gulp, and if she won, she would drink for Jia Cong. Even when others laughed at her for tricking them into drinking, she didn't care at all.

……

As the hour of Xu approached, Yingchun led her sisters to disperse, allowing Jia Cong to rest early and conserve his energy so as not to delay his important expedition.

The other sisters were all alright, but Xiangyun's pretty face was flushed, her eyes were glazed over, and she was speechless, staring blankly at Jia Cong.

Whether it was due to the alcohol or not, her eyes were always slightly red, and she seemed to want to say something but couldn't. Everyone assumed she was drunk and didn't think much of it.

Since Daiyu, Yingchun, and Tanchun had all been drinking, and Baochai was about to return to the West Mansion, Xiangyun only allowed Jia Cong to help her to the door and refused to let him see her off any further.

Jia Cong then instructed Ping'er, Wu'er, Qingwen, and others to each carry a lantern and escort the sisters back to their respective homes.

She went to the backyard bathroom to shower and relax. When she returned to the main house, Zhi Shao had already removed her makeup and changed her clothes and was making the bed.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door twice. Yu Chuan came in carrying a copper basin of hot water. This was the first time she had done this since Jia Cong had never stayed overnight in Rongxi Hall.

He had been somewhat timid to begin with, but when he saw Zhi Shao dressed in a small outfit, her hair slightly tied up, her body graceful, and her beauty languid, she was exceptionally alluring.

This scene in the bedroom reminded Yu Chuan of something, and her pretty face instantly turned red.

Jia Cong, however, did not take it to heart. He casually asked Yu Chuan some questions, which eased her embarrassment and shyness. After Jia Cong washed his face and mouth, he took the copper basin and went out.

Zhi Shao closed the room doors and windows and said, "Senior Sister said she is abstaining from alcohol and meat and is afraid of disturbing the girls' enjoyment, so she will not come to the farewell banquet. She will come to see you off early tomorrow morning."

Even if Zhi Shao hadn't said it, Jia Cong had already guessed what was going on.

Zhi Shao added, "Senior Sister also said that when Master went to meet Zhang Tianshi, Tianshi predicted that Third Master's dragon-shaped aura was full of energy and his pulse was full of good fortune."

This expedition has proceeded safely and may even be successful. We all await Third Master's triumphant return.

Seeing Zhi Shao's tender words and undisguised reluctance, Jia Cong felt a warm glow in his heart and pulled her into his arms.

With the expedition imminent, and her love deep within her, a tender moment of affection and a shared journey to bliss are inevitable...

……

Early the next morning, before dawn, Jia Cong personally went to the Xu residence in the eastern city to pick up Ai Li, along with two maids chosen by Ying Chun.

After he had arranged for Madam Xu's daily life and instructed the two maids to take good care of her, he took Ellie back to the East Mansion.

When they returned, a black horse named Zhui Feng was tied to the back of the carriage, along with several birdcages containing a pair of gyrfalcons and several other birds.

Shortly after the carriage entered the East Corner Gate, Jiang Xiaoliu, Yu Xiuzhu, and others, along with more than twenty personal guards, their armor gleaming and their warhorses magnificent, lined up at the East Corner Gate.

Jia Cong led Ai Li into the inner courtyard. After sitting for only a short while, Ying Chun came to take the two to the West Mansion, to Rongqing Hall, to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia.

Yingchun had met Ai Li twice and had heard Jia Cong mention her many times. She said that this Miss Xu had played a huge role in helping them achieve success in Liaodong.

Therefore, she had always had a good impression of this heroic and beautiful woman.

Now she is accompanying her brothers on their campaign, disregarding her status as a young lady, riding alongside them through the bloodshed of the battlefield, and even helping them achieve new feats. Naturally, she values ​​them even more.

……

Ellie had visited the East Mansion several times before, but this was her first time entering the West Mansion. Although it was not as magnificent and elegant as the East Mansion, it was still more opulent and imposing.

She followed Jia Cong all the way, encountering maids and wives along the way. They were all dressed neatly and courteous, bowing to Jia Cong and showing great respect.

Compared to the servants of the East Mansion, they were less friendly and more respectful and cautious. They could see the subtle differences between the East and West Mansions and felt a little uneasy.

Yingchun saw that Ai Li was brave and beautiful, but her face showed unease, probably because she was new to the West Mansion and was inevitably feeling unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

He smiled and said, "Miss Xu, you don't need to mind. Once you accompany Brother Cong on his expedition, you will no longer be an outsider in the manor."

The old lady is kind and gentle, and she especially admires outstanding young women. She'll surely like someone as remarkable as you.

Jia Cong reached out and grasped Ellie's hand. The warmth of his palm made her feel a little awkward, but she gradually relaxed...

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia had gotten up early, washed and dressed neatly, and Wang Xifeng, also with proper makeup, sat with Grandmother Jia in the hall.

Because his grandson Jia Cong was going to war, according to the custom of military families, he had to enter the hall to pay farewell to his elders, which was considered a good omen in terms of family etiquette.

A short while later, Grandmother Jia saw Yingchun lift the curtain and enter the hall, followed by her grandson Jia Cong.

Accompanying them was a beautiful young woman, tall and graceful, with a stunningly beautiful face, flawless snow-white skin, and bright, sparkling eyes that seemed to hold the essence of the sea.

She wore a moon-white Shu brocade magnolia-patterned robe, with a deep blue, fragrant handkerchief tied around her waist, which accentuated her slender waist and made her look exceptionally beautiful and charming.

Her dark brown hair was shimmering in the morning light, simply styled in a bun without any other hair ornaments, adorned with a delicate gold hairpin inlaid with blue beads.

Jia Cong and Yingchun bowed to Grandmother Jia, but the old lady's gaze fell on Ellie. Seeing her graceful figure and radiant beauty, a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

Grandmother Jia carefully examined Ellie, her gaze seemingly drawn to her, and said with a smile, "This must be Miss Xu. I've heard Er Ya mention her a few times."

An old woman, having been instructed by Yingchun, brought over a cushion. Ai Li performed the junior's etiquette to Grandmother Jia, and was then called to Grandmother Jia's side to speak.

……

Wang Xifeng watched in amazement, thinking to herself, "Cong Laosan is really something, bringing more women home, and such exotic beauties at that."

I don't know where he found it, but he even takes it with him when he leads the army into battle. He really knows how to stir things up...

Grandmother Jia chatted with Ellie for a few moments with a smile, then had Yuanyang bring a pair of jade bracelets as a gift for Ellie.

Wang Xifeng, being worldly-wise, noticed the bracelet's vibrant color and superior quality of pink jadeite, something she had never seen Grandmother Jia wear before.

This beautifully colored jade bracelet must have been worn by Grandmother Jia when she was young. As she got older, it became out of fashion and was kept at the bottom of her trunk.

Unexpectedly, the old lady rewarded her with a gift from her maternal relatives, whom she had just met. The old lady was quite generous in her generosity.

When Jia Cong led Ai Li out of the hall, since the two had to rush to the battlefield, they could not linger in the hall any longer.

After Wang Xifeng and the other two left, she laughed and said, "This girl is really beautiful. I'm a little dizzy from looking at her."

No wonder the old lady liked it so much; she generously gifted her with such fine items. It's a pity, I heard this girl comes from an ordinary background.

Grandmother Jia suddenly said, "I think this girl is unusual. That gold hairpin with pearls she's wearing is a rare item..." (End of Chapter)