Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, back street.

The sky was overcast, the spring chill was biting, and the cold wind howled, seemingly able to seep into one's bones, making one shudder.

Seeing Zhou Ping's confused expression, Yang Hongbin said, "Friends need to support each other, and sometimes they need to help each other succeed..."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ping became even more puzzled, unable to grasp the deeper meaning behind the words.

Yang Hongbin didn't explain anything, because there were some things he couldn't say to Zhou Ping.

This morning, Minister Wei Guanyao entered the palace to meet the emperor. After returning to his office, he summoned Wei Guanyao for a meeting.

Speaking of the case of the leak of military supplies, Xue Pan was a relative of the Jia family by marriage. The emperor originally intended to pardon him because Jia Cong was leading the army on a campaign.

However, the case of Feng Yuan in Jinling had already been reported in the official documents of the three judicial departments, and there was no way to cover it up now. Minister Wei had no choice but to bite the bullet and report it.

The Emperor, aware of the details of the case, was furious at the Jinling Prefect's illegal actions and has ordered a thorough investigation and the arrest of Jia Yucun.

After this incident, the Emperor's leniency towards Xue Pan vanished without a trace, leaving people puzzled and fearing he might be severely punished for the matter.

Due to the constraints of officialdom, Minister Wei did not explicitly state some of his meanings, but Yang Hongbin was able to discern their significance.

When the Emperor wanted to thoroughly investigate the case of the leak of secrets from the military granaries, he issued an edict ordering Jia Cong to participate in the matter and work with the Court of Judicial Review to formulate an investigation strategy.

At the beginning of the investigation into the major case, Jia Cong and he worked together to deduce the case, and through careful consideration, Jia Cong suggested that Chen Ruichang was a prime suspect.

Following the plan and strategy proposed by Jia Cong, Yang Hongbin was able to make rapid progress in the investigation of the military depot leak case, and the case was successfully completed in less than half a month.

The Court of Judicial Review owes Jia Cong a favor, but now that the major case has been investigated and concluded, they have instead implicated his relatives by marriage and are even going to arrest them at the Rongguo Mansion while he is away on a military campaign.

Even Yan Zheng, like Wei Guanyao, felt that this matter was somewhat embarrassing, and later, when Jia Cong returned victorious from his campaign, his colleagues found it difficult to speak to each other.

As soon as Wei Guanyao returned to his office from the palace, he explained the matter to Yang Hongbin. Although the meaning was not fully conveyed, they understood each other implicitly.

Moreover, the investigation into Xue Pan's background was ordered by Yang Hongbin, and he didn't expect it to cause such a stir. He felt somewhat guilty towards Jia Cong.

This is also why Yang Hongbin personally arrested Xue Pan; some things cannot be handled by others if they are to be done properly.

……

Yang Hongbin said to Zhou Ping, "You take men and guard the back street and the east and west corner gates of the two mansions to prevent Xue Pan from escaping. Wait for my order to enter the houses through the back street and arrest him."

Rongguo Mansion is the residence of a Duke. The late Duke Rongguo was a meritorious minister who established the country and made great contributions to the nation. He should not be treated lightly.

Jia Cong holds two noble titles and is also a general who led the campaign against the Mongols. His entry into the Rongguo Mansion to arrest people requires an explanation; otherwise, it will inevitably cause trouble.

As he spoke, he took out a visiting card and said, "The Marquis of Weiyuan is away on a campaign, and the person in charge of the two Jia family mansions is Jia Zheng from the second branch."

Please deliver this visiting card for me, explaining the purpose of our visit, and request that he come to the outer courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion to meet us.

Zhou Ping accepted the visiting card with surprise. It seemed that Yang Sizheng was sending a visiting card first to explain the matter before entering the mansion to arrest the person, showing great courtesy to the Rongguo Mansion.

The Dali Temple didn't follow such rules when arresting Chen Ruichang; they intercepted him on the way, arrested him, and imprisoned him—quick and efficient.

But then he thought about it again and understood the implications. Although Chen Ruichang was also a son of a noble family, he was the main culprit in the leak of military secrets and could not escape the death penalty.

Duke Chen Yi of Qi was already old and decrepit, and had been sitting on the sidelines in the Five Military Commands for many years.

Having finally become the Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition against the Mongols, he is bound to suffer a crushing defeat due to the mistakes of his grandson, and it seems unlikely he will ever be able to recover.

The Qi State Duke's mansion is in decline, like a grasshopper in autumn, it won't last much longer, so there's no need to be picky about arresting Chen Ruichang.

The Rongguo Mansion was quite different. Thanks to the Earl of Weiyuan, Jia Cong, the Jia family had already risen again, like the rising sun, and no one dared to underestimate them.

Yang Sizheng was a close friend of the Marquis of Weiyuan. When he entered the Rongguo Duke's mansion to arrest someone, he naturally had to follow proper etiquette, which was only natural.

……

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

Early in the morning, because of a visit from the Xia family mother and daughter, Lady Wang took Baoyu and accompanied them to the West Mansion to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia, while Jia Zheng just stayed in the study to pass the time.

Just as it was nearing noon, after the women of the inner courtyard had dispersed, he planned to go over and pay his respects to Grandmother Jia.

Unexpectedly, a servant from the outer courtyard reported that Yang Hongbin, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, had sent someone to visit Jia Zheng. Jia Zheng knew of Yang Hongbin and also knew that he was a friend of Jia Cong.

But he had never had any dealings with him before, so why did he suddenly come to visit? However, since the other party was an important official of the Dali Temple, Jia Zheng would naturally not neglect him.

When he entered the outer hall to make contact, he met Zhou Ping, who had come to deliver the letter, and listened to his explanation of the matter. He was greatly surprised.

Jia Zheng knew that his nephew Xue Pan was a dissolute young man. A few years ago, he caused a death in Jinling, so the whole family moved to the capital to hide. Fortunately, nothing happened in the past few years, and they have had a few years of peace.

Unexpectedly, this nephew remained incorrigible. If he didn't cause trouble, all would be well, but once he did, he was bound to cause a huge uproar, even getting involved in the military storage leak case. Even if it was an unintentional mistake, he still bears a great deal of responsibility.

Thinking of the children in the family, apart from Jia Cong who was successful, the others, such as Jia Lian, Bao Yu, and Xue Pan, were all troublesome and only caused trouble every day. Thinking about this made him feel exhausted.

Now that the Dali Temple has come knocking, and since the second branch of the family is related to the Xue family by marriage, he cannot sit idly by. He hurriedly went to the outer courtyard of the West Mansion to meet the guests.

As soon as he entered the side hall of the outer courtyard of the West Mansion, he saw Yang Hongbin slowly sipping tea, looking calm and composed, showing no sign of coming to arrest anyone.

Jia Zheng hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Jia Zheng is late and has kept Lord Yang waiting."

Yang Hongbin quickly stood up: "Yu Zhang and I are old friends, so I dare not be so polite as to act like an elder. I am here on official business, which is why I invited Lord Jia to meet me."

Jia Zheng asked, "My nephew Xue Pan is immoral and has been involved in a major case of leaking military secrets. His family education has failed, which is shameful. I wonder how he will be punished for this?"

Yang Hongbin said, "Xue Pan introduced others to the spies, which gave the Mongol spies an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Although it was an unintentional mistake, the leak of secrets had a very serious negative impact."

Although the law is lenient, he cannot escape punishment. However, considering the circumstances, he is not an accomplice, and according to common sense, he can be spared the death penalty, preventing the situation from becoming unmanageable.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although he was mediocre and usually just stayed in the government office, he was not ignorant of everything.

It was only after the northern military outposts were breached that the remnants of the Mongol army were able to seize the opportunity, capture Xuanfu Town, and ultimately lead their large army south.

The leak of military supplies shocked the court and the public. Xue Pan was involved in such a shocking matter, and it was fortunate that he was able to save his life.

His arrest by the Dali Temple was entirely his own fault, and he should suffer this hardship so that he can learn from his mistakes.

Even if his wife's younger sister dotes on her son, there must be some reason why she would plead for help and mediation.

Just as Jia Zheng was feeling relieved, Yang Hongbin said, "However, during the investigation, we unexpectedly uncovered an old case, and it seems that Xue Pan's crime will be difficult to prove."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he angrily exclaimed, "Could this beast have committed other evil deeds?"

Yang Hongbin's gaze was cold as he said, "The Dali Temple discovered that Xue Pan was involved in the case, so it sent a letter to the three judicial departments in the capital to investigate Xue Pan's family background."

It was discovered that he had become a dead household three years ago. In Jinling, he competed with Feng Yuan for the purchase of a maid, and allowed his servants to seriously injure Feng Yuan, who later died from his injuries.

To escape a murder charge, he faked his death and got away with it. Jinling Prefect Jia Yucun abused his power and was now under investigation by the Ministry of Personnel.

Does Lord Jia know the details of this matter?

……

After Yang Hongbin finished speaking, he scrutinized Jia Zheng with a clear and penetrating gaze, as if he could see through everything.

When Jia Zheng heard Yang Hongbin mention Jia Yucun, his expression changed drastically. How could he not know the details of this matter...?

Seeing Jia Zheng's expression, Yang Hongbin sighed inwardly. He was almost certain that Jia Zheng was involved in Feng Yuan's case.

He said, "Xue Pan's involvement in the case was unintentional, and there is still a chance to mitigate the severity of the offense."

However, with the re-examination of Feng Yuan's case, Xue Pan's two crimes were combined, impacting the integrity of the bureaucracy, and his fate is now uncertain.

The Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue families of Jinling were related by marriage and had been friends for generations. They had long heard of each other's influence. It was only natural for relatives and friends to lend a helping hand when their children were convicted of crimes.

I am a close friend of Yu Zhang, and there is something I wish to say, but I am unsure whether I should.

Jia Zheng, recovering from his shock, said, "Lord Yang, please feel free to speak your mind. I am all ears."

Yang Hongbin said, "The four great families of Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue are all highly favored by the emperor and hold noble official positions. Jia Yuzhang is the only suitable candidate."

He is now on a campaign abroad, a key general in the war against the Mongols, and his chance to achieve great things is just around the corner.

This war against the Mongols stemmed from the loss of secrets from the military depot. Xue Pan, a fellow brother of his, was implicated in the leak of secrets from the military depot, which concealed a deep danger.

If, out of family or kinship ties, he were asked to step forward and plead for leniency, rumors would surely spread throughout the court and the public. What would the Emperor and his officials think of that?

I have heard that although Lord Jia and Yu Zhang are uncle and nephew, they are as close as father and son. Lord Jia has always supported Yu Zhang, which is why he has achieved what he has today.

Having served as an official for many years, you are well aware of the secrets of officialdom. If Yu Zhang were to get involved in this matter, he would surely be criticized. The Emperor has always relied on you.

If the emperor's favor is damaged as a result, it may be difficult to recover. Yu Zhang's years of dedication to the country could all be in vain.

……

Although Jia Zheng was straightforward and honest, as the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion and influenced by the powerful and noble family, he was by no means a fool.

Yang Hongbin's words were clear; he was warning himself that the Jia family, out of kinship, should not try to intervene or lobby on Xue Pan's behalf.

This matter should not involve Jia Cong, because as a general who led the campaign against the Mongols, if he were implicated in the case of the leak of military supplies, it would invite criticism and damage the emperor's favor, which would be a loss for him.

But the Jia and Xue families have been related by marriage for generations. Can they really just stand by and do nothing? The most powerful person in the Jia family is Jia Cong. Besides him, who else can save Xue Pan?

Seeing Jia Zheng's embarrassed expression, Yang Hongbin could easily guess what he was thinking.

In fact, he knew Jia Cong's character well. Even if Jia Cong were in the capital, let alone when he was away on a military expedition, he would most likely not get involved in this matter.

Not only because Xue Pan is a relative of the second branch of the family and has no real kinship with the first branch, but Jia Cong would not easily get involved.

Furthermore, Yang Hongbin was familiar with Jia Cong's intelligence and, given his shrewdness and careful consideration, would never easily provoke him.

Yang Hongbin's words were merely a statement of fact, leaving a lingering impression on Jia Zheng, but in reality, he harbored another concern: the special relationship between Jia Zheng and Jia Cong. Jia Cong was a wise and understanding man, but not a heartless one…

……

Yang Hongbin continued, "I have heard that Jia Yucun has already established a clan connection with the Jia family, and he has a connection with the Rongguo Mansion."

This person also came from the imperial examination system and rose to the high position of fourth rank. He did not cherish his official career and dared to commit illegal acts. His character and temperament are unpredictable.

"If Feng Yuan's case is reopened, how things will unfold and whether unexpected complications will arise are truly unpredictable. Lord Jia must be cautious."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng felt a chill run down his spine. Back in Rongqing Hall, Jia Cong had spoken of Jia Yucun's misdeeds.

Yinglian was the daughter of his benefactor. He knew the truth at the time, but in order to curry favor with the Jia family, he secretly concealed the matter and allowed Yinglian to become a slave.

This person is wicked, shameless, and ungrateful; his nature is quite evident. If he were to be convicted, who knows what he might do to protect himself...

When Jia Zheng recalled this incident, his heart trembled with coldness. He deeply regretted his blindness and lack of caution in his actions back then, which led to today's disaster.

……

Yang Hongbin observed Jia Zheng's expression and said, "A man of noble character like the Duke of Zhou should know that as long as the imperial favor remains and his official rank is high, he will be respected."

The two Jia families stood firm, and the meritorious service of the late Duke in establishing the country was passed down through his bloodline, ensuring the enduring glory of the Jia family.

Even if the remaining generations of the family suffer temporary losses, with the protection of the Jade Chapter, the family will eventually be able to make up for the deficiencies and achieve a complete recovery. This is a long-term plan.

"I am only speaking out of friendship, and my words today may have been presumptuous. I hope you will forgive me."

Jia Zheng's face was slightly pale. Yang Hongbin's words were insightful, containing a deep sense of danger, and Jia Zheng understood their profound meaning.

He said, "Lord Yang is a man of great virtue. It is a great fortune for Yu Zhang to be your friend. I will remember what you said today, and this applies only to the relationship between you and me."

Yang Hongbin nodded and said, "I have said what I needed to say. I can only apologize for offending you today."

He shouted towards the outer courtyard, "Guards!"

Zhou Ping, who was waiting in the outer courtyard, ran to the door of the side hall and asked, "What are your orders, sir?"

Yang Hongbin said, "Go to the Pear Fragrance Courtyard in the back street and immediately arrest Xue Pan!"

After he finished speaking, he cupped his hands to Jia Zheng and stepped out of the outer courtyard's side hall. Jia Zheng sighed deeply. Although he was full of worries, he could only return to the inner courtyard to report the news first.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The hall was filled with embroidered robes and gleaming hairpins, fragrant breezes, laughter and cheerful conversation, and a harmonious atmosphere.

Mrs. Xia was witty and charming, even more so than Aunt Xue; she was a woman of great skill.

She also wanted to win over and please Grandmother Jia, so she said everything to please her and made Grandmother Jia very happy.

Moreover, she was very good at reading people's expressions. Seeing that Grandmother Jia was close to Aunt Xue, she made sure to get to know Aunt Xue well in her conversation, and the three of them chatted very congenially.

Madam Wang was also a seasoned woman, but compared to her, she was inferior and sometimes couldn't even get a word in edgewise, which made her seem somewhat neglected.

But Madam Wang didn't mind, because the Xia family was already related by marriage to the second branch of the family, and the harmony between Madam Xia and the old lady would be more beneficial to Baoyu.

Shi Xiangyun, with her cheerful and straightforward nature, talked at length about Jia Cong's expedition, how powerful the firearms and cannons were, and how glorious Jia Cong's triumphant return was.

Miss Xia forgot about her personal feelings and jealousy. She had very little contact with Jia Cong and knew very little about him.

Hearing Shi Xiangyun speak eloquently, he naturally listened with bright eyes, thoroughly enjoying himself and completely captivated.

Tan Chun found it rather strange that they were talking so well together.

He couldn't help but wonder if he should tell Xiangyun about his third brother's warning afterwards.

Seeing that Tan Chun was absent-minded, Baochai assumed that she was feeling neglected and bored, so she pulled her aside to chat.

Everyone in the hall had something to say, but Baoyu alone had nothing to say and was extremely depressed.

He never imagined that his future wife, whom he hadn't even married into the family, would also begin to fall into depravity.

Hearing Xiangyun boast about Jia Cong, her eyes lit up with excitement. What should we do? Jia Cong has truly caused us a great deal of harm...

As everyone in the hall was lost in their own thoughts, the curtain was suddenly flung open with a piercing, whistling sound, and everyone turned to look.

Then, Aunt Xue's maid, Tongxi, came into the hall, her face pale and filled with terror.

He said, "Madam, something terrible has happened! Soldiers from the Dali Temple have broken into our house, saying that Master is involved in a case of leaking secrets from the military storage facilities and they want to take him to the yamen for trial!"

…………

The atmosphere in Rongqing Hall was lively, with everyone chatting and enjoying a harmonious moment.

The maid's shocking words were like ice water poured over hot soup; everyone in the hall was astonished and froze instantly.

Aunt Xue and Mrs. Xia were chatting enthusiastically, and because they were thirsty, they were slowly sipping their tea. Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue trembled all over, and the teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Her face was pale as she asked, "What exactly happened? Why are you so trembling? Tell me again in detail."

Tongxi steadied himself and explained it carefully again. Aunt Xue was so angry that she swayed and for a moment forgot that there were guests in the room.

He cursed, "That good-for-nothing! He's trying to kill me! He's only been quiet for a few years, and now he's caused this deadly trouble again."

Baochai was so frightened that her pretty face turned pale and she couldn't help but shed tears. She quickly stepped forward to support her mother.

Although Aunt Xue cursed under her breath, she was of one heart with her son and struggled to return to Pear Fragrance Courtyard. She wanted to see her son and find out what had happened.

When Grandmother Jia heard the terrible news, she was a little panicked for a moment. Fortunately, she was old and it wasn't her own children who had gotten into trouble, so she didn't completely lose her composure.

Over the years, the Xue family had been living in the Jia family's residence. Aunt Xue would visit and chat with them regularly, and there was still some affection between them, so Grandmother Jia couldn't just ignore it.

He said, "How can a woman deal with this kind of thing, where the government arrests people? Bao'er is still a virgin; what if she offends them?"

"Now that Cong-ge'er is not home, I'll send someone to fetch Zheng'er. He's Pan'er's uncle and also an official; he can speak with the officials."

……

No sooner had Grandmother Jia finished speaking than a maid outside the door announced, "The Second Master has arrived."

Jia was also puzzled when he heard this, and asked Jia Zheng, "Your timing is perfect. Something has happened at home, and we were just about to call you to deal with it."

When Jia Zheng saw Aunt Xue weeping bitterly, he knew that the news had already spread to the inner courtyard.

He said, "The Dali Temple just sent out a notice, and my son already knows about it. Old Madam and Sister-in-law, please don't panic. I will handle it."

Aunt Xue insisted on going along, so everyone had no choice but to persuade Baochai to stay. It would be inconvenient for a young lady to go with men, and besides, it would be useless for her to go.

Jia Zheng accompanied Aunt Xue to Pear Fragrance Courtyard. Just in case, he also asked Lin Zhixiao's wife to bring two maids with her.

Even if Aunt Xue went, it would be of no use. Yang Hongbin had already spoken to Jia Zheng, and there was absolutely no room for maneuver.

When Aunt Xue saw her son, she could only cry and scold him. When she asked him why, Xue Pan was also confused and was already so frightened that his legs went weak.

In the end, she could only watch as her son was taken away. Xue Pan was still crying for help. Aunt Xue was heartbroken and at her wits' end. She covered her face and cried bitterly.

……

After a while, Tan Chun and Xiang Yun, supporting Grandmother Jia, arrived at Pear Fragrance Courtyard with Lady Wang, Baochai, and others.

No one could explain what was wrong, and they could only comfort Aunt Xue and Baochai, but the two mothers just sobbed, and the Pear Fragrance Courtyard was filled with sorrow and gloom.

Jia Zheng recounted the whole story of Xue Pan's involvement in the leak of secrets about the military depot, and Aunt Xue immediately felt hopeful.

She said to Grandmother Jia, “Grandmother, Pan’er has been fooling around outside. I have advised him many times, but this wretched child doesn’t take it seriously. Now he has really caused an accident.”

However, he was just making friends and had no idea what the details were. Even if he made some mistakes, they were unintentional and not intentional wrongdoings.

Of all the young men in our family, Cong-ge is the most promising. He not only holds a high official rank, but is also a trusted figure in the Emperor's court.

If he steps in to help turn things around, Pan'er will surely escape this calamity. I am nearly fifty years old and have only this one wretched child.

The old lady, mindful of the friendship between the Xue and Jia families, insisted that Cong-ge'er lend a helping hand.

Although Baochai was crying with tears streaming down her face, she could clearly hear and understand Jia Zheng's explanation of the matter.

The crime my brother committed is closely related to the war against the Mongols, which is the most taboo thing at present.

Cong and his brother were both important generals in the campaign against the Mongols. Their mother asked him to intervene and try to clear his brother's name, but this matter was probably not appropriate.

Baochai was feeling quite flustered when she heard Jia Zheng say, "This matter should not be handled by Cong-ge'er!"

Everyone was filled with grief and distress when they heard Jia Zheng suddenly speak. His words were not only somewhat harsh but also contained a hint of sternness, and they all looked surprised.

Grandmother Jia also frowned, complaining that her son was naive and lacked worldly wisdom. Even if he couldn't let his grandson speak, he should have said it more tactfully. Why did he have to be so blunt?

Hearing this, Madam Wang felt somewhat displeased.

After all, Xue Pan was her own nephew. Even if the two sisters had a grudge, she would lose face in the Jia family if her husband refused to help.

He said, "Master, Pan'er and Cong'er are brothers. Now that Pan'er is in trouble, it is only natural for Cong'er to lend a helping hand."

Cong-ge'er was able to speak in front of the emperor again. When Lian-er was sentenced to death, it was only because of Cong-ge'er's direct memorial that Lian-er was spared the death penalty.

This kind of thing is extremely difficult for others, but it's quite ordinary for Cong-ge'er. As long as Master asks, Cong-ge'er will definitely help.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng was instantly filled with rage… (End of Chapter)