Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

When Madam Wang said this, not only did Jia Zheng feel angry, but Tan Chun also felt awkward. Madam Wang's words were too domineering.

The Xue family are relatives of the second branch of the family. Even if we should try to make some efforts, we should always mention the master and Baoyu, since the third brother is from a different branch of the family.

How can Madam speak so matter-of-factly? How much she usually dislikes Third Brother, has she forgotten all of this?

Now that she needs someone's help, she says such things. It's really distasteful. But since she's a junior, she naturally doesn't know how to say anything.

When Grandmother Jia heard this, she frowned. This daughter-in-law was a bit ignorant of her place. Her grandson was surnamed Jia, but Xue Pan was surnamed Xue and was only a relative of the second branch of the family.

This is a plea for help, yet he can be so self-righteous. Besides, the leak of military supplies involves national and military affairs, so who would want to provoke such a thing?

If Cong-ge can save Lian-er, he is his own brother, so naturally he has no choice but to do so. Xue Pan is on the other side, and his daughter-in-law is brainless.

……

Seeing that everyone was present and that Aunt Xue was making a scene, Jia Zheng didn't want to lose his temper in public, lest he embarrass everyone.

He had no choice but to suppress his anger and said, "Cong-ge'er is currently away on a campaign, and we can't help him now. How can we plead for Pan'er?"

Moreover, the leak of military supplies occurred at the very beginning of the war against the Mongols. As a general in this campaign, Congge'er faces a thorny issue; it's not as simple as you think.

Baochai felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this, realizing that her suspicions were indeed correct; even her uncle shared the same idea.

My brother was involved in Duan Chun's business dealings, and I always felt uneasy about it. I reminded him many times to cut off the connection, and in the end, my words came true.

My brother can't get involved in anything, but he has to get involved in the military depot's leak. Not to mention that Brother Cong isn't in the capital, even if he were, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere...

They couldn't very well ask someone to risk their career and future by going up to exonerate their brother, not to mention that the Cong brothers wouldn't act rashly.

Even the old lady and her uncle, for the sake of the Jia family's reputation, would probably try to stop this...

Hearing Jia Zheng's words, Aunt Xue became even more flustered and said, "Cong-ge'er was originally the most capable, but now he is away on a military expedition. What should we do?"

"Brother-in-law, I can only count on you now. After all, you are an official of the imperial court; only you can save Pan'er's life."

Jia Zheng looked troubled. He was the eldest son of the Jia family and held a real official position. He had access to his ancestors' extensive network of connections, which enabled him to help Jia Yucun obtain a fourth-rank official position.

But now that Jia Cong has inherited the title, the Rongguo Mansion's long-standing connections and relationships have been transferred to him. Do you think they will still give him face?

Moreover, Jia Zheng sought an official position for Jia Yucun, and now the consequences have come to pass, leaving Jia Yucun feeling lingering fear and in a state of utter distress.

At this juncture, using his connections to help Xue Pan clear his name would be beyond his capabilities, not to mention that he was already involved in Feng Yuan's case and getting into trouble again would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

He frowned and said, "Just now, a colleague sent word that Pan'er is not only involved in the military depot leak case, but the matter of Feng Yuan in Jinling back then has also been investigated by the three judicial departments."

Pan'er's feigned death and escape have been confirmed by the three judicial departments, and Jia Yucun is also to be dismissed and investigated. The Dali Temple has already reported this matter to the palace.

I heard that His Majesty is quite furious. Pan'er has committed two crimes, and the matter is now very difficult. If we want to reduce Pan'er's punishment, we must plead for him before the Emperor.

"Cong-ge'er is currently in a precarious position. Although I have served in the Ministry of Works for many years, my official rank is lowly, and I have never had the honor of meeting the Emperor. How could I possibly speak before him?"

……

Just moments before, Madam Wang had been speaking eloquently and confidently, but upon hearing Jia Zheng's words, she knew that her master was already angry, and immediately stopped talking.

Moreover, Jia Zheng said that in the case of Feng Yuan, Xue Pan's faked death had already been exposed by the government and had now been reported to the emperor.

This terrified Lady Wang even more, because it was she who persuaded Jia Zheng to write a letter to Jia Yucun, which led to the resolution of the Xue family's murder case.

Now that this matter has resurfaced, what if it involves her husband? Madam Wang was terrified and dared not utter another word...

Jia Zheng said, "Even if I wanted to lend a helping hand, I am powerless to do so. I will ask my colleagues and friends to inquire about the progress of Pan'er's case trial."

"Your sister-in-law could discuss this with your brother; after all, he is the military governor of the capital garrison, a second-rank military officer, and can speak to the Emperor."

Aunt Xue understood the implication in Jia Zheng's words: the Jia family did not intend to get involved in her son Xue Pan's affairs.

Although Jia Zheng's words made sense, Aunt Xue was unhappy but helpless. Fortunately, she could still ask her brother for help.

When Grandmother Jia saw that her son was unwilling to get involved in this matter, she was actually quite willing.

Having served as a military honorary title lady her entire life, she knew that any case involving military or national affairs was a matter of life and death, and she would naturally stay away from it if she could avoid getting involved.

After comforting Aunt Xue, Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, and others, they told Baochai to go to Rongqing Hall to relay any messages she needed. Only then did everyone leave.

……

Looking at the empty main room, Aunt Xue couldn't help but feel resentful. She said, "The Jia family has no intention of helping us. How cold-hearted people are!"

Baochai said, "Mom, no one expected this to happen. That Duan Chunjiang is indeed not a good person. My brother has been harmed this time."

Brother Cong is not home right now. Actually, what Uncle said earlier makes sense. He really can't do anything about it, and we shouldn't force him to.

When Feng Yuanren was murdered, his uncle wrote to Jia Yucun. Because of his uncle's recommendation and his desire to curry favor with the Jia family, Jia Yucun used various means to settle the case.

Now that the old case has been reopened, not only has the elder brother's crime been aggravated, but Jia Yucun has also been implicated, and I'm afraid my uncle will also be implicated.

Without Cong and his brother to support the Jia family, I'm afraid my uncle is in a state of utter confusion. In the end, it is our Xue family that owes the Jia family.

I know something terrible has happened to my brother, and Mom is heartbroken. We mustn't say anything rash at this time; it's not worth offending our relatives for no reason.

……

Aunt Xue glanced at Baochai and sighed, "It's remarkable that someone your age can still think so carefully about such a major event in your family."

Mom regrets it now. I know you have feelings for him. Originally, Mom always considered the Xue family's reputation and really didn't want to wrong you.

I didn't expect that I had misunderstood. Although Cong-ge has never shown his true colors, I'm an experienced person, and I'm certain that he will take a liking to you.

Since you've set your sights on him, why should I waste my time? Before he settles down on a wife, I should give you to him as soon as possible. Regardless of the status of your relationship, it's better to be the first to accept him.

Cong-ge'er has always cherished girls, and you are a sensible and knowledgeable person. You have also been visiting the same household for many years, so he will surely love and care for you.

Regardless of social status, priceless treasures are easy to find, but a loving husband is hard to come by.

"If this matter had been settled earlier, the Jia family would never have stood idly by if something serious had happened to your brother..."

Upon hearing her mother's words, Baochai felt a surge of heat throughout her body, her heart filled with both joy and sorrow. Her pretty face flushed red, then turned pale.

Mother would never have agreed to this, but now that her brother has committed a serious crime, even if he survives, he will still face a severe punishment.

By then, the reputation of the Xue family in Jinling will be damaged, and they will certainly not be what they used to be. That's why my mother thought of marrying me off to my brother Cong.

Not to mention that outsiders might find it worldly, isn't it too late? By then, things will have changed, and the old lady will probably be hesitant to act.

What was once a tender and loving memory of youth now seems increasingly distant. I should try to think about him less in the future to avoid creating unnecessary trouble for myself...

……

Baochai suppressed the pain in her heart and said, "Mother, at this point, why say such things? Finding a way to rescue my brother is the most important thing."

Aunt Xue knew it was too late to discuss this matter further, so she hurriedly said, "You're right, we should worry about your brother's life or death first."

First, write a letter explaining your brother's situation. I will have someone deliver it to your brother's residence immediately and invite him to discuss how to rescue him.

Baochai pondered for a moment and said, "Mother, although my uncle is the military governor of the capital garrison, seemingly holding a high position and a second-rank official, he may not be able to save my brother."

Aunt Xue said anxiously, "What are you saying? He is your own uncle. As the saying goes, your maternal uncle is as important as the sky."

Now that your brother is in grave danger and your brother-in-law has moved to the East Courtyard, his power and influence are not what they used to be. There's nothing we can do about it.

Your uncle is a high-ranking official of the second rank, and he frequently visits the Emperor. He has the ability to help resolve this predicament; do you think he would simply stand idly by?

……

Baochai smiled bitterly and said, "Mom, you're oversimplifying things. Although Uncle is a high-ranking official of the second rank, his foundation is not what it used to be."

Back then, my cousin Wang Yi insulted Cong's mother, and the two had a conflict. I heard that my cousin suffered a great loss and was left with a chronic illness.

Because of her resentment, the aunt took advantage of the fact that Cong and his brother had achieved the top score in the imperial examination and instructed her servant to write a letter of false accusation, saying that Cong and his brother's mother was of lowly birth and had no qualifications to take the imperial examination.

This incident caused quite a stir at the time and almost ruined the Cong brothers' futures, but fortunately the truth eventually came to light.

Aunt Xue said, "I've vaguely heard about this, because every time I go to your uncle's house, your aunt is chanting sutras in the Buddhist hall and rarely comes out to see guests."

But every year during the Jia family's festivals and birthday celebrations, your uncle still offered his congratulations as usual. It was just the younger generation being silly; the matter was forgotten once it was over.

Baochai said, “Mother, you make it sound so easy. Brother Cong is the unicorn of the Jia family. Uncle values ​​him more than his own son, and the old lady is extremely protective of him.”

After such an incident, how could we let it go? Because of this, my uncle has severed ties with the Jia family. Everyone is just going through the motions to cover things up.

Because I am close to the Jia sisters, we occasionally whisper among ourselves in our private quarters, and their words are always absolutely certain. However, since the Xue family is currently residing in the Jia household, I have never mentioned this matter to you.

……

Aunt Xue was anxious and said, "Even if the relationship is really severed, it will not prevent your uncle from rescuing Pan'er. These are two separate matters." Xue Baochai said, "Mother, everything in the world is interconnected by cause and effect. Over the years, when my uncle came to visit, I listened to what he said and knew that his career was not going well."

Over the years, as I've moved around the inner courtyard, I've heard that my eldest uncle once plotted to control nine provinces, but his plan was thwarted when my brother Cong was falsely accused.

The eldest uncle has been stuck in the position of military governor of the capital garrison for six or seven years, while the Cong brothers have risen rapidly in rank and made outstanding military achievements, already surpassing the others.

Leaving aside distant matters, let's just talk about this war against the Mongols. I heard from my sister Xiangyun that the Five Armies Camp mobilized 40,000 troops for the expedition.

The second master of the Shi family was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Mongols, leading 65,000 elite troops and shouldering the heavy responsibility of guarding the capital.

My uncle was the military governor of the capital garrison, which was the head of the five major military camps. His military rank was above that of the second master of the Shi family, but there was no such position among the generals who fought against the Mongols.

This is really illogical. The emperor has left the uncle out of the picture. Anyone with eyes can easily see that the emperor is treating the uncle very coldly.

I am a sheltered young lady who rarely leaves the house and has little worldly experience, so I don't know why I have become like this.

However, it is an undeniable fact that the eldest uncle's favor with the emperor has waned. Under such circumstances, how could he possibly succeed in pleading for his brother before the emperor?

Moreover, not only will it fail to achieve anything, it might even cause trouble. Besides, my uncle is shrewd and capable, and has always been ambitious in his career.

If I were to plead with the Emperor on behalf of my brother, it would jeopardize his career prospects, and I'm afraid my uncle would definitely refuse..."

……

Upon hearing Baochai's words, Aunt Xue's face grew even paler. She was not a dull woman, but she lacked Baochai's keen insight.

Wang Ziteng was her own brother, so she naturally knew his temperament well. What her daughter said about being meticulous and flawless was indeed the truth.

Aunt Xue said with tears in her eyes, "What can we do? Cong-ge'er is not in the capital, your uncle is not in the presence of the emperor, and we can't even count on your maternal uncle."

Are you just going to watch your brother go, leaving him to live or die as he pleases? What sins have I committed?"

Baochai sighed, "Mother, don't panic. Actually, there is a way. Our Xue family still has capable people. How come I didn't think of that?"

My second uncle has been serving in the Guangchu Division of the Imperial Household Department for many years, traveling with the royal family to the southern borders and overseas to search for rare and precious treasures.

I heard Baoqin say that in the past ten years, although my second uncle has only returned to Shenjing a few times, he has entered the palace to meet the emperor each time.

It is said that no other official in the Guangchu Division has received such an honor, which is truly rare and extraordinary.

My second uncle may seem unassuming, but he is someone who frequently visits the emperor. If he were to go to the palace to plead for the emperor, he would probably be even more suitable than my eldest uncle.

Furthermore, since my second uncle was a temporary official, he could travel freely throughout the country and enter the capital without needing an imperial edict, which was another great convenience.

I thought I should write a letter immediately to tell my second uncle and brother about the matter. My second uncle and father are brothers, and they would definitely not sit idly by.

Furthermore, Baoqin is engaged to Mei Hanlin's son and will be sent to the capital for marriage next year. Her second uncle will come to the capital sooner or later, but he is only half a year ahead of schedule.

"We should treat them well when they arrive. My second uncle went to the palace to plead with the emperor, so we have some chance of success. It's better than us being helpless."

……

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue's expression immediately softened, and she said happily, "You're such a clever girl. How come I didn't think of that?"

Your second uncle and your father are siblings, and there is no closer blood relation than that. Send a message to Jinling by fast horse, and it will arrive in five or six days.

If your second uncle receives the letter and sets off, he will be able to arrive in the capital in about half a month, which is quite fast.

Your brother is involved in a very serious case this time. Based on past experience, it usually takes at least half a year to settle the matter.

Considering the time frame, there's still time! There's still time! Your brother can be saved this time!

Seeing her mother's overjoyed expression, as if she had grasped a lifeline, Baochai couldn't help but smile bitterly. This was merely an emergency measure, and its success was still uncertain.

But seeing that her mother was worried about her brother and was filled with fear and anxiety, she naturally didn't say much, only hoping that this method would work.

Baochai suddenly remembered that Cong and her second uncle had met once and had a very pleasant conversation, which could be considered a kind of fate...

……

She and Aunt Xue went into the inner room, where Jin Chuan ground ink and laid out paper. Just as she was about to pick up her pen to write a letter, she suddenly remembered something.

She said, "Mom, although we can't rely on my eldest uncle for this, we still need to write a letter and send it to his residence as soon as possible. My daughter and I will go there in person."

With such a major incident in the family, according to common sense and custom, we must let my eldest uncle know about it, and we should still plead with him.

As for whether my uncle can lend a helping hand, that's not something we can control. At least we'll do what we should do and leave no room for criticism.

Aunt Xue nodded and said, "You've thought things through very carefully. We'll do everything according to your wishes."

I don't know when Cong-ge will return to the capital. If your second uncle doesn't succeed by then, I hope he can lend a hand.

Baochai smiled bitterly to herself. Her mother still hadn't seen things clearly. Even if Brother Cong were still in the capital, let alone now that he wasn't there, this matter still had far-reaching implications.

Once the investigation into Feng Yuan's case is concluded, I'm afraid my uncle will also be implicated. Even if the Cong brothers dare to take the risk, he can only save one of them, my brother and uncle.

It's obvious who he'll ultimately save, no need to guess. Mom hasn't even thought this through; she'll probably be even more heartbroken and embarrassed when the time comes…

She said, "Mom, you shouldn't think about this. Brother Cong is leading troops on an expedition. He won't be back for ten days or half a month. It will take at least three months to half a year. Mom, you shouldn't count on it."

……

Baochai was quick-witted and soon wrote two letters. The one to Wang Ziteng only briefly described the matter, as the mother and daughter wanted to visit him in person to ask for his help.

However, in the letter she wrote to Xue Yuan, Baochai put in a lot of effort, describing the matter in great detail, and her words were full of sincerity.

Baochai called over the head maid and told her to immediately go to the Prince's mansion to deliver the letter. She also had the letter to Xue Yuanzhi copied twice in meticulous handwriting.

He instructed his servant to summon the shopkeeper and have him hire two groups of fast horse riders to deliver the message to Nanjing day and night, promising a generous reward to whoever arrived first.

By the time everything was settled, Baochai was exhausted and felt an indescribable weariness.

Although she did not do much, her brother's misfortune left her heartbroken and her widowed mother completely lost, relying solely on her daughter for support.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the door. It was Daiyu who had heard the news and asked Tanchun to accompany her to visit.

However, Yingchun was nowhere to be seen. Tanchun casually mentioned that it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and Yingchun had gone to Hongfu Lane in the east of the city to visit Miss Xu's mother.

Because this Miss Xu accompanied Jia Cong on his expedition, fighting side by side through life and death on the battlefield, their bond was extraordinary. Yingchun was simply fulfilling her duty as a brother.

Aunt Xue had heard of this Miss Xu before. It was said that before Jia Cong went to war, he took her to Rongqing Hall to pay respects to his elders, and the whole thing was done in a very serious manner.

She couldn't help but feel more worried when she thought about her son's troubles, her daughter's uncertain marriage, and the new girl, Miss Xu, by Jia Cong's side.

As noon approached, Grandmother Jia set out lunch at Rongqing Hall and sent someone to invite Aunt Xue and Baochai.

Daiyu, Tanchun, and others accompanied them, but since something terrible had happened to the Xue family, there was no joy at the banquet. After Grandmother Jia offered a few words of comfort, everyone ate and dispersed hastily.

Originally, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, because Jia Cong was away on a military expedition, all the entertainment at home was canceled, and the banquet was reduced by half, making it quieter than in previous years.

This time, the Xue family suffered another misfortune, making the Lantern Festival even less joyful.

Grandmother Jia didn't mind the absence of Gao Le; she was just saddened by the absurdity of the Xue family members, which had brought such trouble upon themselves.

The Jia family, however, has Jia Cong to uphold its social standing, and is now thriving, which makes Grandmother Jia feel fortunate...

……

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the sixteenth year of the Jiazhao reign, at dawn.

Twenty miles northwest of the capital, there is a dense forest nestled at the foot of a mountain, filled with various kinds of tents.

Before dawn, Jia Cong leaned against a large tree, holding a brass telescope in his hand, and gazed towards the direction of Wawu Town.

Ellie, dressed in military uniform, stood tall and graceful, exuding a heroic air. Standing beside him, she seemed just like the bodyguard Jia Cong had hired for two taels of gold back in Liaodong.

This morning, before dawn, a scout from the northwest reported that Lin Zhen had led four thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers to the hillside designated by Jia Cong.

Thousands of soldiers worked through the night, setting up artillery positions on the hilltop and making meticulous preparations around the hillside according to Jia Cong's instructions.

Upon hearing the scout's report, Jia Cong felt increasingly at ease and confident. For him, everything was ready except for the final push.

Last night, he ordered Jiang Xiaoliu to lead scouts to the direction of Wawu Town overnight to gather information on the movements of the remnant Mongol cavalry, so that he could find an opportunity to attack.

Because the scouting activities of the remnant Mongol cavalry would inevitably be reduced to a minimum from night to early morning, it would be easier for Zhou's scouts to approach and collect and communicate information.

As dawn broke, countless rays of light appeared on the horizon, and the layered morning clouds seemed to ignite like fire, exuding an eerie, blood-red brilliance.

Through the telescope, Jia Cong saw that at the far end of the distorted light, three groups of fast horses were galloping towards them, and the riders were all dressed in civilian clothes.

The hooves of the three fast horses were neatly wrapped in fine cotton cloth, so that even when they were riding at full speed, the vibration of their hooves was minimized.

As the three fast horses drew closer, Jia Cong peered through his telescope and was able to clearly make out their faces.

His spirits suddenly lifted, and he said, "Pass down the order: prepare the equipment, and the entire army is ready to set off..." (End of Chapter)