Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

Early in the morning, Jia Zheng entered the Ministry of Works office and received official documents from the Ministry of Personnel and the Court of Judicial Review. His colleagues, who had previously been respectful and flattering, now avoided him like the plague, their demeanor shifting from obsequious to arrogant.

However, Li Dekang, the Minister of Works, did not show any shallowness. He even summoned Jia Zheng to the official residence and said that Jia Zheng was an old hand in the Ministry of Works, and that ups and downs in his official career were inevitable.

He advised him to return to his residence first and to keep an eye on other matters for him. Although Li Dekang's words were vague, it was quite remarkable and rare for a high-ranking official to act in this way.

Li Dekang did not take advantage of Jia Zheng's misfortune; instead, he showed him considerable leniency. Although Jia Zheng had served in the Ministry of Works for over ten years, Li Dekang's actions were mostly out of consideration for Jia Cong.

Jia Cong is only sixteen years old, but he has already made outstanding military achievements, been promoted to the fourth rank, and held the title of Vice Minister of Works. It is only a matter of time before he is appointed to one of the six ministries and becomes a prime minister.

If Li Dekang were a fool, he wouldn't be able to become the head of the Ministry of Works. Even though Jia Cong's official rank was still lower than his, Li Dekang would not show the slightest contempt or recklessness.

Everyone in the capital knew that Jia Zheng and Jia Cong had a special relationship. Even though Jia Zheng had been demoted today, he had Jia Cong behind him, and who knew when he would be reinstated?

It would be too shallow and ridiculous to make such a show of disrespect in public. Li Dekang is a shrewd and cunning man, so he would never do anything stupid and would do as many favors as he should.

……

Jia Zheng had served as an official for many years, and now he had fallen into such a predicament that everyone wanted to avoid him. Li Dekang's demeanor was truly rare and admirable.

He hadn't expected that an official would come knocking on his door so soon after he was dismissed from the government office, indicating that this person knew he was in trouble; otherwise, he wouldn't have come to visit at this time.
Moreover, this person's identity puzzled Jia Zheng even more. Although Lady Wang was a woman of the inner quarters, she came from an official family and was not entirely ignorant. She also felt that something was amiss.

He asked, "Master, why is an official visiting at this time? I've never heard of you having any dealings with officials from the Ministry of Revenue. What is the background of this official from the Ministry of Revenue?"

Although Jia Zheng looked confused, he also had a hint of inexplicable excitement as he said, "This Chen Bingzheng, courtesy name Changji, is the eldest son of Chen Mo, the Minister of Personnel!"

Madam Wang frowned and said, "The document issued by the Ministry of Personnel states that the master has been suspended from his post and is being held at home. What is the meaning of the Minister of Personnel's eldest son coming at this time?"

Jia Zheng said, "Don't speak recklessly. Chen Mo, the Minister of Personnel, was the chief examiner of last year's spring imperial examination and Cong'er's mentor. Chen Changji is Cong'er's fellow student."

The two had an extraordinary relationship. Chen Mo had helped his brother-in-law Ru Hai back then, and the Chen and Lin families were old friends. This brought them even closer.

The Chen and Jia families have a teacher-student relationship and have now begun to visit each other. During the New Year this year, Chen Changji and his wife visited the East Mansion to pay their respects to Cong Ge'er.

Because of the connection between the Chen and Lin families, Lin Yatou was the one who received Madam Chen. I overheard this at Rongqing Hall and that's when I remembered Chen Changji's name.

Chen Changji is Chen Mo's eldest son. The fact that he chose this time to visit doesn't seem like a baseless accusation. He certainly doesn't seem to have any ill intentions, so perhaps there's some kind of ulterior motive involved..."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang felt uneasy again. Cong-ge'er was simply everywhere; even while he was out fighting, he was still involved in everything in the capital.

His mentor had just dismissed the master from his official post, and now his son was coming to visit him. What kind of strange behavior was this? Did he intend to come and ridicule the master?

But the master said that things would change once this person arrived at the mansion, so Lady Wang dared not say more. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, Lady Wang did not want Jia Zheng's career to be cut short.

……

East Courtyard, Main Hall of the Outer Courtyard.

When Jia Zheng entered, he saw a man in his early thirties, with a refined and scholarly appearance, wearing an indigo robe with a dark floral pattern, quietly sipping tea and waiting.

Upon seeing Jia Zheng enter the hall, he stood up and said, "Junior Chen Changji greets Lord Jia. I apologize for my presumptuous visit today and hope for your understanding."

Jia Zheng quickly said, "Lord Chen, you are too kind. We are of the same rank, and I... I dare not presume to be your elder. Please have a seat."

Chen Changji smiled and said, "Yu Zhang is my father's disciple, and I am his fellow disciple. Lord Jia is my elder, so this is only proper etiquette."

I know that you have just received a document from the Ministry of Personnel and have been temporarily suspended from your post. Since ancient times, people's hearts have been treacherous, and the ups and downs of officialdom are inevitable. You need not worry too much.

Yu Zhang was an outstanding figure among us. He was not only accomplished in his studies and literary talent, but also renowned throughout the world. In addition, he was exceptional in military strategy, had outstanding military achievements, and risked his life to serve his country.

He was away on campaigns, protecting the country and its people, and upholding the nation's interests. He had no time to protect his own family. Even if there were unexpected disasters or dangers, or if he was far away and had other things on his mind, he had no time to care.

My father often said that Yuzhang had a difficult childhood, but thanks to the kindness, discerning eye, integrity and selflessness of the elders, he was able to become the pillar of the nation he is today.

My father once said, "In everyone's life, minor flaws are inevitable, but doing one good deed will yield abundant results and bring lasting honor. This is the way of Heaven, especially for someone as outstanding and capable as Yu Zhang, who can stabilize the nation."

……

As Chen Changji finished speaking, he glanced at the two maids standing in the hall, picked up his teacup and took a sip. Jia Zheng realized what was happening and quickly waved for the maids to leave the hall.

Chen Changji said, "Father said that the old man acted carelessly, which made Jia Yucun think of flattery and taking advantage of his kindness, and he did something illegal and rebellious. Fortunately, it did not cause a major disaster."

The Feng family received compensation of gold and silver from the Xue family, which settled the matter peacefully. Although the old man had committed a crime, it was considered that his past troubles had been eliminated, and he had fewer pretexts to use against him, which might not be a bad thing.

However, with the imperial decree bestowed upon him a new title, the emperor's grace was boundless, and the court and the public were all focused on him. The greatest credit for the war against the Mongols was given to one person, and there were bound to be those who were jealous and resentful, and those who would plot against him.

If anyone uses Feng Yuan's matter as a pretext to stir up controversy and undermine Yu Zhang's military prowess, it will not only hinder the campaign against the Mongols but also make it difficult for the old master's affairs to be resolved.

Now that the official document has been issued and the overall situation is settled, before others can react, it is better to take the initiative and secure an invincible position, thus allowing for greater room for maneuver.

So, my father asked me to pass on a message to the old man…

……

Jia Zheng had already understood the meaning behind the words. Chen Changji's visit must have been at the behest of Chen Mo, who was Jia Cong's mentor and was quite protective of Jia Cong.

He repeatedly mentioned that he had protected Jia Cong back then, saying that doing a good deed would yield great results and bring him honor, subtly revealing his intention to help him turn the tide.

Perhaps Chen Mo's actions had other deeper meanings, which Jia Zheng could not fathom, but Jia Zheng was quite certain that Chen Mo had the intention to help.

A glimmer of hope rose in his heart, and he said, "Lord Chen is a senior official with profound talent and virtue, and outstanding wisdom. If you would be so kind as to give me your advice, I, Jia Zheng, will listen attentively."

Chen Changji lowered his voice and said solemnly, "Because of Yu Zhang, our two families are on good terms. I cannot bear to see this happen. My father conveyed only these four words: 'Submit a memorial to apologize.'"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's face paled slightly, but after carefully considering Chen Changji's words, he understood their meaning. His gaze gradually became calm and clear, and his chest rose and fell slightly.

He said, "Jia Zheng understands his meaning. Please ask Lord Chen to convey it to the old master. Jia Zheng has learned his lesson."

…………

In the East Courtyard, in the inner courtyard's main hall, Jia Zheng was receiving guests in the outer courtyard. Lady Wang was somewhat uneasy; her husband had just been suspended from his post and returned home, and the sudden visit from the son of the Minister of Personnel made her uneasy.

Although she did not know the specific reason, Madam Wang was certain that the sudden arrival of Physician Chen must be related to her husband's loss of his official position, and the timing of his arrival was too coincidental.

She waited for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, and saw Jia Zheng return from the outer courtyard. His expression was ambiguous, his lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes were solemn, making him appear somewhat stiff.

Madam Wang asked, "My lord, Physician Chen is the son of the Minister of Personnel. Why is he visiting us now? Is he going to talk about official positions? I don't know whether to be happy or worried?"

Jia Zheng said, "His purpose in coming is indeed related to this matter, but you don't need to worry about it anymore. Now that the official document from the court has been issued, the matter is settled. I am preparing to submit a memorial to apologize."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang was horrified. Her husband had only seen a guest for a short while, and upon returning, he said he had submitted a memorial to plead guilty. The court had not yet conducted an interrogation. Wasn't her husband confessing without being asked?

The Minister of Personnel's son is indeed a bad person. His father took away his master's official position, and now he has his son bewitching his master. Does he want to kill his master?

Lady Wang said anxiously, "Master, Jia Yucun's case has not been concluded. You have only been suspended from your post by the court. The matter is not yet deadlocked. You should submit a memorial to plead guilty yourself."

Wouldn't it mean that if he confessed his guilt, there would be no room for negotiation? Was it the idea of ​​that Dr. Chen? Since he is Cong's senior brother, it's one thing if he doesn't care about our past relationship.

How could you give the master such a despicable idea? If the master really confesses his crime, his career will be ruined. If the master loses his official position, what will the second wife rely on in the future?

"Your Excellency must be extremely careful in your actions. You must not listen to these people's distorted words. Even if you disregard me, you must consider Baoyu. You cannot do such a foolish thing."

……

Jia Zheng, his head throbbing from Wang Furen's nagging, couldn't help but frown and shout, "Shut up! What do you, a mere woman, know about the dark side of officialdom!"
When Pan'er caused a murder case in Jinling, I was disgusted by his arrogant and tyrannical behavior and didn't want to get involved. It was you who couldn't bear to lose face in front of your family.

You keep trying to justify yourself by saying that the fault doesn't lie with Pan'er, but with the servants below who are disobedient and act recklessly, causing a death. Pan'er is just a figurehead, which is why I asked Jia Yucun for help.

If we hadn't acted so rashly, how could we have suffered this calamity? Since it has come to this, so be it. The official document has already been issued. Do you still expect to keep your official position?

I am nearly fifty years old and have been in the Ministry of Works for sixteen years. My career has been mediocre and without any achievements. Now that such a thing has happened, why should I linger and be reluctant to leave?

Cong-ge'er is a man of both literary and military talent, holding the prestigious rank of First Class Official. He is a pillar of our Jia family, and now he is leading his troops into battle to serve the country, a time when he is making great achievements.

I do not wish for his achievements to be tarnished by petty people because of my sins. Former Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Duke Chen Yi of Qi, was dismissed from his military post by the court because of his grandson's sins.

Am I to let Cong-ge'er suffer the same fate as Duke Chen Yi of Qi because of my mistake? If it really comes to that, what face will I have left to be someone's elder?

If Cong-ge'er's reputation is tarnished and his career prospects are jeopardized, who will support the Jia family's two mansions? No one in the family will have a good outcome. How can we let a small matter cause us to lose the big picture?

The Jia family still benefits from the old master's influence. I have served as an official for over a decade without making any mistakes. Now that I have been morally flawed, I will simply be dismissed from office. Do you expect me to lose my life?

"When a family prospers, there are gains and losses; when faced with two evils, choose the lesser. It's such a simple and clear principle, yet you insist on making excuses and arguing against it. It's utterly absurd!"

……

Jia Zheng grumbled and stormed off, returning to his study at Mengpo Studio to draft a memorial, intending to submit it to the Court of Transmission before sunset, hoping it would reach the Emperor as soon as possible.

Seeing that Jia Zheng wouldn't leave, Lady Wang was heartbroken. Her husband was truly bewitched, abandoning his career for that boy from the East Mansion.

Isn't that little beast proud enough? How high a position does he want to be? Does he want everyone else to die so that he can succeed in his own career?

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

When Grandmother Jia heard that Jia Zheng had been dismissed from his post, she sighed deeply and was in a state of great distress. Although her son's official position was not high, he was a civil official in one of the six ministries appointed by the emperor, which was a respectable position for a noble family.

It should be known that the sons of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, who were granted official positions through hereditary privilege, mostly held military posts in various local garrisons and military units. Many of them had to leave the capital to take up these posts, which were not good jobs.

The most prestigious positions among them were those in the Five Military Commands and the Five City Garrison Commands, but their ranks were not high, and most were sinecure positions with little chance of promotion.

Since Chen Ruichang's leak of secrets led to a major war between the two states, rumors have recently circulated in the court and among the public that the Emperor is increasingly disgusted and dislikes the dissolute and immoral sons of noble families.

From then on, the bestowal of official titles by meritorious officials and military posts in the capital, such as the Five Military Commands and the Five City Garrison, would no longer be granted easily, and the career paths for the sons of meritorious officials became increasingly narrow and difficult.

Therefore, Jia Zheng was granted a regular civil official position, which made him appear even more noble and respectable among the military officers. Although the second branch of the family had become a minor branch, with Jia Zheng's official position supporting them, their status remained quite high.

Jia Zheng had served as an official for over a decade, and everything had always been peaceful and uneventful. Grandmother Jia was quite content with this. Now, however, her beloved son had suddenly lost his official position, and the second branch of the family had a weak foundation, causing Grandmother Jia great distress.

Originally, Xue Pan's troubles and imprisonment were matters of another family, and Grandmother Jia didn't care at all, even comforting and consoling Aunt Xue. Now, the trouble has spread, even implicating her son and causing him to lose his official position.

This caused Grandmother Jia to harbor resentment towards the Xue family. Years ago, Prince Teng's wife had secretly harmed Jia Cong, and now the Wang family's nephew had caused his son to lose his official position. No one in the Wang family, young or old, had any good fortune.

It's a shame the Jia family was so kind as to let the Xue family stay in their mansion for so many years; they've only brought trouble upon themselves. Their good intentions have been met with no good reward, and if things continue like this, they might cause even more trouble...

Although Grandmother Jia had her own thoughts, now was not the time. Her priority was to find a way to help her son, so she sent someone to the East Courtyard to summon Jia Zheng to speak with her.

However, Jia Cong, the most capable man in the family, was away on a military campaign and could not help for the time being. So he sent a message to Lin Zhixiao, asking him to invite his nephew Shi Ding to come to the house.

Seeing that such a thing had happened, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others knew that the old lady must be very upset. The sisters felt it was inappropriate to stay any longer, so they comforted the old lady and then left Rongqing Hall together.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

News of Rongqing Hall spreads extremely quickly throughout the West Mansion, not to mention major events like Jia Zheng's departure from his official post. Aunt Xue and Baochai also heard the news very soon.

Xue Pan's involvement in the major military storage case and his imprisonment without visitation for many days have made life unbearable for Xue's mother and daughter. Jia Zheng's loss of his official position due to Xue Pan has also made them even more fearful and uneasy.

Aunt Xue was sighing as she thought about how the two families would ever meet again after such an incident while she was living in the Jia family's residence. Just then, Yingchun, Daiyu, and others came to visit.

After leaving Rongqing Hall, the sisters stopped by Lixiang Courtyard. Aunt Xue had her maid serve tea, and she herself was too embarrassed to stay any longer, so she let the sisters talk.

After Yingchun and the others chatted for a while, Baochai said, "Second sister, it's all because my brother is useless. He caused trouble and went to jail, and even implicated my uncle, causing him to lose his official position."

What face does the Xue family have left to see the old lady and Cong brothers? I was thinking that after my brother's matter was settled, my mother and I would move to the family villa..." (End of Chapter)