Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

Upon hearing Baochai's words, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others all sighed. Originally, it was just Xue Pan who was involved in a case and imprisoned, but no one expected that things would escalate to this point.

Because Xue Pan was involved in a major leak of secrets, the government unexpectedly unearthed an old case in Jinling, and Jia Zheng was dismissed from his post because of this. The disaster that had befallen other families turned into his own.

The sisters witnessed Grandmother Jia's worry and anger in Rongqing Hall. The old lady must have already resented the Xue family. Baochai, being intelligent and shrewd, naturally knew this without asking.

Therefore, it's not surprising that Baochai said she was ashamed to face Grandmother Jia and Jia Cong, and that the Xue family planned to invoke the Jia family's name.

Yingchun saw that Baochai's face was pale, her jade-like face was thin and her beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, which made people feel sorry for her. She had also long seen that Baochai was warm and tender towards her brother and had developed feelings for him.

Although she admired Baochai's character and appearance, the Second Master and Congdi had a deep family bond, but now, due to the Xue family's misfortune and loss of their official positions, the two families' relationship had become strained, making things awkward for both sides.

The old lady cared deeply about the second master's official position and had already developed a dislike for the Xue family. Even if Congdi and Baochai were in love, the old lady's dislike for them likely made her unwilling.

Yingchun thought of her younger brother's honor of being betrothed by imperial decree. Even if he was truly destined to marry Baochai, he could only be a concubine in the future. The old lady might not be able to control Cong's brother's formal marriage.

However, with the passing of the eldest master and the widowed wife living in seclusion, the matter of Cong's younger brother taking a concubine and arranging a wedding involved the relationship between prominent families, so the old lady really had the power to interfere in this matter...

……

Seeing Baochai in this state, Yingchun couldn't help but have a lot of thoughts. She also noticed that Baochai's face was pale, her brows were furrowed, her eyes were red and she looked like she was about to cry. Yingchun couldn't help but sigh.

He said, "Why say such things, sister? It's already unfortunate that Brother Pan is involved in a case and imprisoned. No one expected that it would implicate the Second Master. This is a disaster that came out of nowhere."

Whatever the reason, it's not your fault. We sisters have been together for many years and are as close as family. The Xue family has also suffered, so it's even more inappropriate for us to say such unrelated things.

Besides, Congdi is currently away on campaign. If you and your aunt move out now, I won't be able to explain it to him when he returns. He'll likely resent me for neglecting our family ties and proper etiquette.”

Daiyu and Xiangyun also tried to comfort her, and Tanchun said, "Although Master has been suspended from his post and confined to the mansion, the situation is still uncertain, which is not good. Sister Bao, don't take it too seriously."

My third brother has just made military achievements and has been promoted to deputy commander-in-chief. This is related to the important matter of the court's campaign against the Mongols, and he is also highly regarded by the emperor. Moreover, even if my father made a mistake, it did not cause a major disaster.

Now that Third Brother is leading the army to war, serving his country loyally, as the saying goes, even if you don't care about the monk, you should care about the Buddha. Perhaps things will turn around regarding Master's situation. Sister Bao, please don't worry.

Daiyu said, "Third Sister is indeed clever. She hit the nail on the head. Second Uncle's official position was bestowed by the palace, so even if he is punished, there will be room for maneuver."

The sisters comforted Baochai, which eased her mind a little. She then left Pear Fragrance Courtyard and returned to the East Mansion. Baochai and her maid saw her off at the door before she returned dejectedly.

Aunt Xue was sitting in the main room waiting when she saw Baochai looking depressed. She said, "I originally planned to talk to the old lady after your brother's matter was settled, and arrange your marriage."

But I never dreamed that when your brother was imprisoned, the government would reopen old cases, causing your uncle to retain his official position. The old lady dotes on her son, so how could she not be angry?

"It's all because of your good-for-nothing brother! He not only causes trouble and squanders the family fortune, but he's also ruined his sister's life! How could I have raised such a troublesome brat!"

……

When Xue Baochai heard what her mother said to the old lady, that she wanted to help her get married, she felt no joy at all, and her face became even paler than snow.

He said, "Mom, why don't you understand? Although Brother Cong's official rank is prestigious, in the old lady's eyes, Uncle's imperial bestowed official position is just as precious and respectable."

Now that my uncle has lost his imperial post because of my brother, how could the Jia family possibly treat the Xue family well anymore? Mother, please don't bring this up again, so as not to embarrass everyone.

I've already made up my mind. Once my brother's case is settled, we'll move to our own villa. Originally, we moved to the capital because of my brother's case.

Now that Feng Yuan's case has been exposed, even if my brother survives this time, he will surely be exiled far away, and our family will no longer need to hide.

According to my daughter, once everything is settled, why don't we move back to Jinling? That's the Xue family's ancestral home, where we have a house and property to live a stable life."

……

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue's face changed drastically. If it were just moving to another villa, she could avoid some of the embarrassment. But with such a thing happening, it would inevitably be awkward among relatives.

The Xue family villa is located in the south of the capital, only a quarter of an hour's drive from the Rongguo Mansion. Since the two families are still in the same city, it would be easier for them to visit each other again once things have calmed down.

But once they returned to their old home in Jinling, the Xue and Jia families would truly sever all ties. If their son were to be convicted, they would be left alone with their daughter, truly without any support.

Aunt Xue quickly said, "Bao'er, I know your brother caused your brother-in-law to lose his official position. If you feel ashamed to continue living in the Jia family, you can move back to the villa for the time being."

But why move back to Jinling? Shenjing is the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, more prosperous and glorious than Jinling. We have lived here for several years and are already used to our daily life here.

You and the Jia sisters were close, and now you'll never see each other again. Not to mention someone like Cong-ge'er, a rare find indeed. You have him in your heart, and it will be difficult to fulfill your wish in the future.”

Baochai's eyes were red as she said, "Mother, please stop saying these things. My brother is involved in a major national case and has been convicted. The Xue family has fallen into disgrace and is no longer what it used to be."

The old lady is heartbroken that her uncle's career has ended, and she must already be disgusted with the Xue family. What Mom is thinking is destined to be a delusion; why bother making things difficult for herself?

……

When Aunt Xue saw that Baochai's voice was trembling and she was heartbroken, she naturally understood what she meant. She regretted her earlier indecisiveness, which ruined her daughter's good match and brought her nothing in the end.

Thinking that her son is now guilty and has fallen from grace, she knows that even if she takes her daughter back to Jinling, people will surely look down on her family. She fears that she can no longer find a good match for her daughter.

Besides, Baochai has met someone like Jia Cong, so she wouldn't care about anyone else. Even if someone were to find her a husband, she would most likely refuse to marry him and there would be no good outcome.

Aunt Xue became increasingly worried, but she had already made up her mind that she could not let her daughter have her way and must not return to the south easily, otherwise it would be too late to undo the damage.

Just as Aunt Xue and Baochai were each feeling sad, the maid Ying'er rushed in and said, "Miss, the messenger you sent returned to the capital from Jinling yesterday."

Because the city gates are now open for inspection every other day, they were delayed outside the city overnight and just arrived at the main gate on the back street, bringing back a letter from the Second Master of Jinling.

Upon hearing this, Baochai quickly composed herself, took the letter from Ying'er's hand, and hurriedly opened it to read it carefully.

Aunt Xue hurriedly asked, "What did your second uncle say in his letter? Did he mention when he could come to Jinling?"

Baochai's face lit up with a hint of joy as she said, "Second Uncle said in his letter that he would set off three days after receiving the letter, and that he would send a fast horseman to deliver the letter first. They would then arrive in the capital."

According to calculations, Second Uncle set off five days ago. Because he brought Baoqin along, his journey will be slower, but he should arrive in two or three days at most, in time to help his brother.

……

Aunt Xue was overjoyed to hear this and said, "After all, they are our own blood relatives, and that's the only ones we can truly rely on. At such a critical moment, your second uncle has come from afar to help us."

Your second uncle took Qin Yatou with him on the journey, which is already quite fast. I asked your uncle to inquire about it. Your brother has been interrogated after being imprisoned and has not been tortured or abused.

Yang Hongbin, the chief judge of the Dali Temple who was in charge of the case, was said to be a close friend of Cong Ge'er. He was a very upright official and personally questioned your brother. The confessions were all true and without any deviation.

Your uncle said that such a major case requires a joint trial by the three judicial departments, and the paperwork is extremely complicated. The case won't be closed until late spring at the earliest, giving your second uncle time to travel to the capital and negotiate.

Baochai said, "I trust Brother Cong the most, and I can naturally trust his close friends as well. Although Yang Sizheng cannot exonerate my brother, he will certainly act impartially in handling this matter."

Aunt Xue sighed, "Cong-ge is so young, yet he not only has outstanding achievements, but also has an incredible network of connections. Even someone like the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review is one of his close friends."

Our family has lived in the capital for many years. Your brother's daily interactions with the sons of noble families are merely drinking buddies; he hasn't cultivated any real connections in official circles, and when things come to a head, he's always in dire straits.

Aunt Xue then said, “Bao’er, Baoqin is engaged to Hanlin Mei, and the wedding was originally scheduled for next spring. Your second uncle brought her to the capital this time to escort her to the wedding.”

The Mei family and we are relatives, both living in the capital. It wouldn't be good to remain silent. Besides, Baoqin is about to enter the capital, so we should send a gift to the Mei family to show our familiarity with them.

After Baoqin gets married, the Mei family and our family will also be related by marriage. The two families will inevitably visit each other. We will have another official relative in the capital, which is a good thing.

You said you wanted to move back to Jinling, but that's not appropriate right now. Baoqin will be getting married next year and will need to settle in the capital. We need to provide accommodation for our family, and you sisters can keep each other company.”

……

Baochai, being intelligent and perceptive, understood her mother's thoughts perfectly. Now that her brother was imprisoned for a crime, her mother felt increasingly lacking in connections within the officialdom. The Mei family was a renowned family of poets and officials, with a considerable reputation in the capital. Her mother was using her cousin's marriage as an opportunity to cultivate relationships and curry favor with the Mei family…

She sighed slightly and said, "Mom, it would have been fine to associate with the Mei family before, since the two families would be related by marriage and both live in the capital. It's just a matter of social etiquette."

But at this juncture, it's not appropriate to make a formal visit or exchange pleasantries. Otherwise, instead of establishing a familial bond, it might backfire and embarrass Baoqin.

…………

Aunt Xue frowned and said, "As the saying goes, it's never wrong to be overly polite. What you're saying is a bit too much. There's no need for so many twists and turns."

Baochai said, "Mother, my brother is involved in a major case of leaking secrets from military garrisons. This case has caused a huge uproar. Many noble sons have been summoned by the government, and even the sons of dukes have been imprisoned."

All officials in the capital city would avoid this major case of leaking secrets from military depots like the plague. The Mei family, which has been officials for generations and is known to value their reputation highly, would be no exception.

Brother Cong was a Hanlin scholar, and Master Mei was his colleague. I once heard Brother Cong mention that Master Mei's name was Jinlin, and he was a calm and composed person who held the official rank of sixth-grade Hanlin lecturer.

He was usually not very talkative, but because he was a subordinate, he treated Cong with great courtesy. It is said that Master Mei had been in the Hanlin Academy for ten years and had never been sent out to other places. He was a senior figure in the academy.

The Cong brothers said that he was a learned man, well-versed in classical texts, and had served as a lecturer in the Imperial Study. He was also the current Prince of Zhao and Prince of Ning, and was a highly influential figure in the Hanlin Academy.

Such a seasoned official, a member of the Hanlin Academy, would undoubtedly value his reputation highly. His brother's involvement in a major military and national case had damaged the Xue family's reputation; therefore, approaching the Mei family at this time would likely not be well-received by Master Mei.

……

Hearing this, Aunt Xue felt even more panicked and ashamed. She also came from a prominent family in Jinling and knew that noble families valued their reputation. Once their reputation was damaged, it would be impossible to recover.

My daughter was right. I heard that the Mei family had produced two generations of Hanlin scholars. They were a well-known scholarly family in the capital. Such upper-class scholarly families valued their family reputation and prestige even more.

My son is still in prison, and bad news has already spread far and wide. My daughter is right. Even if he escapes the death penalty, he will be exiled far away when he is convicted.

By then, the Xue family's reputation will only become more and more tarnished. Even an official of high standing like Mei Hanlin would probably not want to acknowledge him as a relative. Thinking about this, he couldn't help but feel more and more annoyed.

Aunt Xue thought back to a year ago when Cong-ge inherited the Rongguo hereditary title. She sighed that her sister, who was originally the legitimate wife, had fallen from the root of the family to a side branch in one fell swoop.

Now she was in an even worse state than her sister. Her brother-in-law was merely dismissed from his post, and with the protection of the Rongguo Jia family, he would naturally be safe. But her son had become a prisoner.

Aunt Xue was filled with conflicting thoughts, and her worries deepened. She thought about her daughter's absurd idea and wondered how she would face her relatives in the Xue family if they really moved back to Jinling.

She could only settle down in Shenjing and wait for Cong-ge'er's triumphant return from his campaign. She was an experienced woman, and with her daughter's exceptional looks and qualities, how could Cong-ge'er, so full of youthful vigor, not be attracted to her...

……

Shenjing, Wenhuifang, Meizhai.

The Mei family was originally a scholarly family in Jiaozhou, with several generations of scholars who had passed the imperial examinations. However, although they were somewhat famous in the field of studying and pursuing official careers, they were not considered to be particularly outstanding.

Until Mei Jinlin's father, Mei Fangzhou, suddenly rose to prominence, ranking among the top in the second class of the imperial examination at the age of thirty, becoming the first Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the Mei family, and serving in the Hanlin Academy for five years.

Mei Fangzhou was transferred from the Hanlin Academy to an official post. Although his career had its ups and downs, it was ultimately peaceful. He eventually rose to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue before retiring, making him the pinnacle of the Mei family.

Mei Jinlin inherited his father Wen Hua's talent and eventually passed the imperial examination, ranking second in the first class. He then entered the Hanlin Academy through the imperial examination, thus making the Mei family a distinguished and prestigious lineage with two members who became Hanlin scholars.

Although he possessed talent in classical studies, he lacked the competence of his father, Mei Fangzhou. Furthermore, he was attached to the reputation of the Hanlin Academy and consistently avoided being sent to other posts, which is why he remained immersed in the Hanlin Academy for many years.

The Mei family's old residence was built by Mei Fangzhou and has been in existence for more than 30 years. It has been renovated twice. Although it is not luxurious, it is still well-maintained, elegant and refined, and quite remarkable.

Outside the main hall, in the covered walkway, a young man in his twenties, dressed in a blue robe with a loose belt, with a refined appearance, was walking into the hall. This man was Mei Yunsong, the only son of the Mei family.

Although Mei Yunsong was twenty years old, he was already a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination). Apart from exceptional talents like Jia Cong, he was considered outstanding among the students, but he failed the imperial examination last spring.

He is now studying diligently behind closed doors, hoping to achieve success in three years. In fact, it is quite common for scholars to fail the imperial examinations. His father and grandfather also failed the imperial examinations several times before finally passing.

……

He entered the main room and saw his father holding a letter, reading it carefully and deep in thought. He asked, "Father, what brings you here?"

Mei Jinlin handed the letter to his son and said, "Master Xue from Jinling has sent a letter. He will be going to the capital soon on business, and he will be taking Miss Xue with him."

Mei Yunsong took the letter with a happy expression and said, "I have arranged a marriage with Miss Xue. I thought she would come to the capital at the end of the year, but I didn't expect her to come now."

Seeing his son's delighted expression, Mei Jinlin frowned and said, "I called you here, but don't listen to what you're saying. Xue Yuan's sudden arrival in the capital, do you know anything about it?"

Mei Yunsong said, "Miss Xue and I are engaged. Originally, the Xue family was supposed to send her off at the end of the year, but since Master Xue had to go to the capital for some business, it is only natural that he came earlier."

Jinling and the capital are thousands of miles apart. It wouldn't be appropriate for Master Xue to travel to the capital to complete his business and then return to Jinling to escort his daughter to her wedding; such a long and arduous journey would be far too troublesome.

Upon hearing his son's words, Mei Jinlin, still lost in thought, frowned and said, "I see you are quite pleased with your marriage to the Xue family."

Mei Yunsong said, "Father, the Xue family of Jinling is also a prominent family, as famous as the Jia family in the old city of Jinling. Miss Xue is exceptionally talented and beautiful, and her life is rarely like that of a son."

The son was naturally very happy to marry Miss Xue, and the father also valued Master Xue, saying that although he did not hold a prominent official position, he had a powerful background and often moved around the palace.

The Xue and Jia families have been related by marriage for generations. Miss Xue's maternal aunt, Jia Cunzhou, is a direct descendant of the Rongguo family, and the Jia family is showing signs of rising power; therefore, this marriage is considered respectable.

Mei Jinlin snorted, "You're supposed to be well-read, yet you don't understand the principle that times change. When you were betrothed, these analyses were indeed correct."

But at that time, the imperial examinations had not yet begun, and no one could have imagined that Jia Cong would actually become the top scholar, ranking second in the first class, and being appointed a fifth-rank Hanlin Academician, thus becoming his father's superior.

Upon hearing Jia Cong's name, Mei Yunsong frowned slightly and said, "Father, Jia Cong is fortunate to have become the top scholar in Yongzhou. It is common for him to pass the imperial examination in the spring. This is not surprising."

Mei Jinlin said, "Of course I knew he would be on the list, but the imperial examinations gather the best talents in the world, and I never imagined that he would be able to stand out from the crowd."

Originally, he was just a military officer who passed the imperial examination. In the end, he was still a military officer, and he was also born out of wedlock. His background was considered unclean, so his father didn't care too much about it.

However, a scholar from a distinguished family like Jia Cunzhou is somewhat compatible with my family's social standing. But his eldest daughter entered the palace at a young age, and his second daughter is born out of wedlock, so they are definitely not a good match.

In addition, I had some prior acquaintance with Xue Yuan. While others may not know his background, I have some vague knowledge of it. Furthermore, given his connection with Jia Cunzhou, this marriage arrangement is appropriate.

However, man proposes, God disposes. Jia Cong was not only a member of the Hanlin Academy but also the head of the fifth-rank academicians. This time, because of his military achievements, he was even promoted to the rank of fourth-rank vice minister by the emperor.

Having served as an official for many years, I have never seen him so favored by the Emperor. Moreover, given His Majesty's actions, I would like him to pursue a career as a civil official, which is also a means of counterbalancing military officials.

Jia Cong is now a direct descendant of civil officials, the head of two Jia family mansions, a member of the Hanlin Academy, and a fourth-rank vice minister—extremely noble and distinguished. He is now a match for my Mei family…”

……

Mei Yunsong said in astonishment, "Father, what do you mean by this? I am already engaged to Miss Xue. Miss Xue is an outstanding person, and I will marry no one but her. I cannot break off the engagement."

Otherwise, how would Miss Xue conduct herself? Wouldn't that ruin her life? Her son prides himself on his innocence and absolutely cannot do such a thing. Miss Xue's appearance and character are truly rare in the world.

No matter how successful Jia Cong is, what does it have to do with my family? He was born into a family of prostitutes and, according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, has no right to take the imperial examinations. Yet now he has been fortunate enough to rise to a high position. My son despises such a man!

Upon hearing this, Mei Jinlin slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "Shut up! Jia Cong is now a fourth-rank official, the head of the Hanlin Academy, and my father's superior."

Moreover, given the Emperor's high regard for him, he could likely become the head of the Six Ministries within ten years, and even have a chance to enter the cabinet to govern. These factors are enough to overshadow his somewhat flawed background.

How could I have raised such a short-sighted and wicked child, uttering such absurd words? I think you are blinded by lust, and a mere beautiful woman has captivated your soul.

Don't forget that you are a son of the Mei family. My family has been Hanlin scholars for generations, with unparalleled integrity and high-ranking official positions in the capital. With the Mei family's status, any noble lady could be a suitable match for you.

You will surely enter officialdom in the future and inherit the honor of the Mei family's Hanlin Academy. In officialdom, you must have a long-term vision. How can you let a beautiful woman blind you to the bigger picture and prevent you from seeing the bigger picture...?" (End of this chapter)