Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 14: The Poisonous Scheme in the Case File

Xue Pan saw that Baochai's words were becoming more and more intimidating, but he couldn't understand no matter how hard he tried, why the four families of Jia, Shi, Wang and Xue had become estranged from each other?

If you can't figure it out, just stop thinking about it. Xue Pan scratched his head and said, "I don't understand what you're saying, sister. But you've been smart since you were a child. I'll listen to you more in the future."

Baochai said, half disappointed, half relieved, "In that case, after breakfast, brother, go and express your wrath. Don't dare to lose your temper again."

Xue Pan responded in silence. After a while, Aunt Xue came back. The three members of the Xue family had breakfast together. Xue Pan packed up and went to the house to express his gratitude.

Unexpectedly, just as she was coming out of Lixiang Courtyard, she saw Xiangling coming towards her from the alley. Xiangling greeted the three of them quickly, saying, "Greetings...Mrs. Xue, Miss Bao, and Mr. Xue."

Xue Pan glared at her with his ox-like eyes and asked in surprise, "You've never been short of food and drink in my house, so how come you look so dull every day? But you look so radiant after just one night out?"

Just as she was about to scold him, Xue Pan suddenly came to his senses and pointed at Xiangling, saying, "You, you...are embarrassed!"

Xiangling slept in Chen Siyuan's arms last night. Although they had no physical contact, she felt so ecstatic when she thought about it that her face turned red unconsciously.

Xue Pan's three corpses were immediately enraged, jumping up and down and shouting, "Chen is going too far! It's only been one night, one night! Chen actually took the room!"

Aunt Xue thought it was better to have less trouble than more. The servants had already been sent over, so what difference did it make when the house was ready? So she came up and repeatedly comforted Xue Pan.

Baochai frowned slightly in displeasure, thinking that Chen Siyuan was either a lustful person, or he was judging others by his own standards, with a sharp eye and a vindictive nature. It would be better to have less contact with such people in the future.

Baochai said bluntly, "If it weren't for my brother's drunken behavior, how could we be in this situation?"

Xue Pan was speechless after Baochai's words. Then, remembering what Baochai had just said, he immediately let out a burst of righteous indignation. He frowned and said with a sluggish figure, "Wine and sex are very harmful to people. Forget it, from now on, I will give up drinking!"

Seeing Xiangling in front of her faltering like a quail, Baochai stepped forward, pulled her hand and said, "Don't be afraid, brother is sober now. With mother and me in front of him, he won't dare to do anything wrong."

"Yes." Xiangling felt a little relieved and said, "Miss Bao, my master is still waiting for me."

"Then go quickly."

Xiangling agreed, bowed and said goodbye, then quickly walked into the small courtyard next door.

Baochai said, "Let's go. I'll go with mother and brother to take a look."

Aunt Xue was puzzled. It had been clearly agreed just now that she would take Xue Pan to express her anger, so why did Baochai want to go too? Then she suddenly realized that this was because she was afraid that Xue Pan, the evil creature, would lose his temper again.

At that moment, the three Xue family members moved to the small courtyard where Chen Siyuan lived. Chen Siyuan had just received a report from Xiangling and did not dare to be arrogant, so he came out to greet them.

After everyone greeted each other, Aunt Xue said a few polite words and then winked at Xue Pan repeatedly. Xue Pan stepped forward with his head drooping, bowed deeply, and said in a low voice, "Brother Yuan, I was drunk and behaved immorally yesterday. I am really sorry. I am here to apologize to you!"

Chen Siyuan didn't hold a grudge against Xue Pan. If it weren't for Xue Pan, he wouldn't have gotten rid of the dog-skin plaster Liu Yan'er so easily. That would have been fine, but he also got Xiangling and a silk shop for free. This way, it was a win-win situation, a double win!

People put down their attitude. As the saying goes, you shouldn't hit someone who smiles at you. Chen Siyuan bowed and said, "Now that things have come to this, I just hope that Brother Xue will treat Yan'er well in the future."

Aunt Xue said quickly, "Very well, very well. This time, the saying 'No fight, no friendship' has been proven true. I see that Yuan-ge and this evil creature are of about the same age, and they will often see each other. They are already related, and who knows, they may become even closer in the future."

Chen Siyuan forced a smile, stepped forward and invited them, "It's cold outside. Please invite my concubine, Brother Xue, and Miss Bao in to chat."

Aunt Xue said, "I won't bother you, Brother Yuan. Today is the day when Miss Feng gives birth, and we decided yesterday to go to the old lady to celebrate."

Chen Siyuan nodded and said, "In that case, I will not keep a concubine."

Aunt Xue and her companions turned back, but after a few steps Baochai suddenly stopped and said to Aunt Xue, "Wait a moment, Madam. I have something to say to Brother Yuan."

She glanced at Ying'er, who was accompanying her, and she handed over the basket she was carrying. Baochai took it personally, then turned to the courtyard gate and said to Chen Siyuan, "For the past two or three years, Xiangling and I have been nominally master and servant, but in reality, we have been like sisters. Now that she has come to live with Brother Yuan, although I am reluctant to leave, I am only happy. These things are my gift to Xiangling as a dowry."

As he spoke, he glanced past Chen Siyuan at Xiangling and said with a smile, "We live next door to each other now. Xiangling, if you have time, please come and talk to me more often." Xiangling quickly nodded in agreement, her words echoing incessantly. If it weren't for Aunt Xue and Baochai's care for her over the past two years, she would have been eaten alive by Xue Pan.

When the basket was delivered to Xiangling, Baochai did not stay any longer, but glanced at it meaningfully.

Then he bowed to Chen Siyuan and turned away.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew, and Chen Siyuan could smell the cool, sweet fragrance. He was slightly dazed, and then he bowed and said goodbye, thinking to himself, "Is that the fragrance the body odor after Baochai took the Lengxiang Pills?"

He collected his thoughts and thought to himself that there had not been any trouble in this matter. Seeing Xue Pan's resigned attitude, he wondered how Aunt Xue and Baochai had explained the matter to him.

And that glance from Baochai just now, could there be some other secret in this basket?

When Xiangling and I returned to the hall, we saw that her eyes were red again. Although this girl was a bit dull, her heart was numb because she was powerless to resist her fate. In fact, if someone was kind to her, she would be moved for a long time and would remember that person's kindness for the rest of her life.

The maidservant Yunxiang followed in to watch the fun. Chen Siyuan then instructed, "The black charcoal the warehouse sent yesterday was really choking." He reached into his sleeve pocket, fished out a piece of silver, and handed it to Yunxiang, saying, "Go talk to the warehouse manager and ask him to get some silver frost charcoal. We don't have enough candles, so get some more as well. Save the rest for you to buy snacks."

Yunxiang was immediately overjoyed. She took the change, estimating it would be worth a little over ten taels. Thinking she'd have some money left over this time, she patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, sir. I'll take care of it."

After saying this, Yunxiang left happily.

Chen Siyuan then turned to Xiangling and said, "Open it quickly and see what Miss Bao has added to your makeup."

"Yes." Xiangling agreed and opened the basket. She saw that the upper layer contained a set of eight silver-threaded silk beaded pear-flower-shaped head ornaments, as well as two pairs of head flowers. The lower layer contained a stack of manuscripts covered in beautiful handwriting.

Xiangling's face was filled with joy at first, then with confusion: "Huh? Why did you bring the young lady's calligraphy here too? Could it be that Ying'er has been confused?"

Ying'er might be confused, but how could Baochai be so careless? I guess that Baochai's meaningful glance just now must have been on this manuscript.

"Bring it to me and take a look."

Xiangling didn't suspect anything and handed the manuscript to Chen Siyuan. Chen Siyuan took it and quickly flipped through it, then frowned.

This is not a poem, but a copy of part of the confession file of the Jinling case on that day.

When the old servant of the Feng family first filed the complaint, he said, "The kidnapper was then secretly sold to the Xue family. We found out and went to arrest the seller and seize the girl. Unfortunately, the Xue family was a powerful family in Nanjing, relying on their wealth and power. Their powerful servants beat my young master to death."

Two days later, the head constable reported back to the former Jinling prefect: "...who knew he wouldn't get away again? The two families caught him and beat him to death, but refused to accept any money, only demanding the release of his captors. The Xue family's son was no pushover, so he ordered his men to beat him to a pulp. He was carried home and died three days later."

The subsequent confessions were basically like this, all pointing out that Feng Yuan caught the kidnapper selling Xue Pan again, and Xue Pan refused to give in. In a hurry, Feng Yuan went straight forward to grab the man, which led to the Xue family's servants beating him up and carrying him home, where he died three days later.

At first, Chen Siyuan was puzzled, not knowing what Baochai meant. But after reading it a few more times, he suddenly understood.

The laws of that time were not like those of later times. For example, during a drought, when two villages fought over water sources, it was common for dozens of people to die in a single fight. The government simply did not want to intervene, nor could it intervene in such private fights. They would often act as peacemakers afterward, and the village with the most casualties would only receive a little more money.

As for severely punishing the criminals, there is absolutely no such thing!
Comparing this example, the two families were unwilling to give in, and Feng Yuan was the first to attack, and he did not die on the spot. Even if he sued the government afterwards, the Xue family would only have to pay more money as compensation.

When the old servant of the Feng family filed the complaint, he did not mention Xue Pan at all. I think he also wanted to get more money for the funeral.

But no one knew what the former Jinling prefect was thinking. The case was delayed again and again until Jia Yucun took office. He arbitrarily ruled in favor of the Feng family, and Xue Pan became socially dead and a living dead.

It is said that Jia Yucun was recommended by Lin Ruhai and had connections with the Jia family to get his job back, so how could he not take revenge for his wrongs?

Moreover, the case was clear and obvious. Even if they didn't know about it that day, two years have passed now. No matter how slow the Jia and Wang families were, they should have reacted. However, no one held Jia Yucun accountable, and no one overturned Xue Pan's case.

Thinking about this, Chen Siyuan couldn't help but take a breath, wondering if there was something wrong with the letter that Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng wrote to Jia Yucun that day?
But why did the Jia and Wang families want to harm the Xue family? Yes, Xue's father was deceased, and Xue Pan was the only descendant of the Xue family's main branch. Regardless of whether Xue Pan died physically or socially, how could Aunt Xue and Baochai, mere women, protect the family's vast wealth? They were trying to wipe out the entire family!
Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by a clear female voice: "Master Chen, our girl is here to see you."

(End of this chapter)