Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 469 The Execution Date, Grandmother Jia's Final Chapter

The flowers have all fallen, and the autumn wind rises.

The flow of people at Caishikou in Beijing remains constant.

After autumn, this place became the execution ground.

Those executed in the autumn were mostly the most heinous criminals. Whenever the people saw the heads of these wicked men fall to the ground, their resentment towards life seemed to find some relief.

It seems to have brought some fairness to an otherwise unequal life.

However, executions were performed almost every day, and over time, fewer people came to watch the spectacle, and no one cared who was carrying out the executions. In the end, people would just throw stones and rotten eggs at the faces of those being paraded through the streets to vent their anger.

Especially since the capital has been very turbulent lately, with students protesting and causing trouble in the streets every day, few people have paid any attention to Caishikou.

This actually made things easier for Yuanyang, because today was the day Grandmother Jia was to carry out her execution.

After the Rongguo Mansion was raided, Yuanyang, as Grandmother Jia's personal maid, was naturally implicated and sent to prison as well.

Nevertheless, she had a clean background and had never assisted Grandmother Jia in committing any heinous crimes. In particular, she showed remorse and repentance in the final stage. Therefore, like most of the servants in the Jia family, she was registered, became a government slave, and awaited sale.

Before the rest of the Rongguo Mansion members were exiled, they had applied to the government to allow her to accompany them.

Yuanyang, however, was determined to collect Jia Mu's remains, but she firmly refused and was ultimately unable to go south.

If she weren't meant to fulfill her duty, Yuanyang wouldn't have continued to live a life of ignominy, walking the streets in such a wretched state, dressed in tattered clothes and barefoot.

There was nothing to say about these grievances, and no one to confide in. Yuanyang pleaded with the prison officials to see Grandmother Jia off on her final journey.

Whether it was her loyalty that moved the officials, or some other reason, this request, which was so against the rules, was actually granted by the officials, who ordered her to return to the prison before dark.

As the prison van traveled from Dali Temple prison to Caishikou, Yuanyang followed along.

Following behind the prison cart, Yuanyang couldn't see Grandmother Jia's face clearly, only that her body was emaciated and her prison clothes were barely covering her body, tattered and worn.

Its skin was almost the color of earth; though alive, it was lifeless.

Yuanyang couldn't bear to look at Grandmother Jia, and even less dared to let Grandmother Jia see her as she was now. She walked along, wiping away tears, her throat trembling with sobs.

"Fortunately, there was no one along the way, so our ancestor was able to leave with dignity."

Just as he was thinking this, someone in the crowd shouted, "Today's executioner is the Dowager Lady Shi of the Rongguo Mansion! Come and see!"

Then hundreds of onlookers gathered, chasing after the prison cart and shouting insults, tearing away the last bit of dignity that Grandmother Jia had left.

"What? That traitorous old hag? She deserves to die! Quick, brothers, aim your stones carefully before you throw them!"

"Has this old hag squandered the legacy built by two generations of dukes in the Jia family? Does she even have the face to meet the ancestors of the Jia family in the underworld?"

"Who says otherwise? Not a single good seed of the Jia family's descendants. I heard that the grandson she protected with her life, the one born with a jade in his mouth, actually became a live-in son-in-law of the Xia family. What a filial son and virtuous grandson of the Jia family!"

The last sentence mentioned Baoyu, which seemed to elicit a slight reaction in Grandmother Jia's empty eyes. She glanced sideways, as if seeking confirmation from the person speaking in the crowd.

His eyes were filled with terror, as if he had gone mad.

"Look, look! She's looking at me! She's probably still dreaming of the Jia family's eternal prosperity!"

"Hit! Hit! That old monster!"

Pebbles rained down on the prison cart, so hard that Grandmother Jia couldn't straighten up.

Even three-year-old children, in their parents' arms, used all their strength to throw stones at them.

The once-noble lady has now fallen into a state of being universally disliked.

Yuanyang wanted to protect her master, but the soldiers of the military command along the way blocked the crowd, making it impossible for her to break into the execution procession. Even chasing after the prison cart with the flow of people was extremely difficult.

The story of Jia Baoyu, which we just discussed, also caused Yuanyang great distress. As the only descendant left in the capital, none of them came to see Grandmother Jia off, which was a testament to how much Grandmother Jia had previously doted on him.

They are utterly heartless and cruel, worse than pigs and dogs.

Before they could arrive, the prison van reached Caishikou.

The autumn sun wasn't scorching, but it still shone brightly across the entire long street.

The streets were already packed with people who had gathered along the way.

The onlookers had changed; they were all people who had heard rumors and were somewhat familiar with the Jia family.

Countless eyes were focused on Grandmother Jia, who was chained and staggering. Some were surprised, some were mocking, and some were numb.

The time had not yet come, and the crowd was already buzzing with discussion.

"Look! That's the old lady of the Jia family!"

"Tsk tsk, how glorious he was back then, the old nobleman of the Duke's mansion! Who would have thought he'd end up like this..."

"I heard that when they confiscated your property, they piled up mountains of gold and silver! No wonder they were able to build a villa for visiting relatives, they deserve it!"

"That's right, I heard that the ground was paved with gold bricks and the beams and pillars were made of white jade! Alas, at such an old age, he didn't die a peaceful death, what a tragedy..."

"Keep your voice down! Don't get yourself into trouble!"

The buzzing of voices was like countless poisonous bees, densely burrowing into Grandmother Jia's ears.

The constables could naturally hear the cheers around them as they punished the most heinous criminals, which made them even more smug.

Seemingly wanting to show off, one of them suddenly yanked hard on the iron chain attached to his arm.

Grandmother Jia was already weak, and caught off guard, she stumbled, her knees hitting the hard, cold bluestone slab with a dull thud.

A piercing pain instantly spread from his knee up his body, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd, which quickly turned into a noisier murmur of discussion and cheers.

The constable pulling the chain revealed a smug look on his face, quite satisfied with the humiliation he had created.

Yuanyang clenched her fists. If this were the old Rongguo Mansion, how could a lowly clerk dare to treat her like this?

But it was precisely this habitual arising of such thoughts that made Yuanyang even more terrified.

Indeed, imperceptibly, she had come to share the same thoughts as Grandmother Jia. It was this very disdain for others that led the Rongguo Mansion to its current predicament.

The clenched fists gradually loosened, and Yuanyang understood that she had only herself to blame, and that she had gotten what she wanted. There was nothing more to complain about.

The Jia family, whose property had been completely confiscated, had no relatives or friends to help them, and therefore no one to bribe the officials.

The Rongguo Mansion, with its mountains of gold and silver, was not something the constables could obtain even a single penny of. After the humiliation, their tone remained cold: "Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?!"

But Grandmother Jia could no longer move her body even an inch, as if the heavy fall had dislocated her lower body.

The execution could not be delayed, so the bailiffs, with a look of disgust, picked her up again and quickly walked onto the makeshift wooden platform.

The heavy clanging of iron chains rang out again, heading towards the execution platform.

At noon, the sunlight shone on Grandmother Jia's face, making it appear deathly pale and devoid of warmth.

As the autumn wind swept by, it would even stir up gusts of dry, choking dust on the stage, mixed with the pervasive smell of sweat and a faint metallic odor, as well as the putrid smell emanating from Grandmother Jia. Those nearby would unconsciously cover their mouths and noses.

The mandarin ducks were in tears, and their weeping only intensified.

In the center of the execution ground, an executioner was holding his thick-backed ghost-headed sword. After the executioner's token was thrown to the ground, he sprayed a mouthful of wine onto the blade.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Grandmother Jia kept her eyes closed; she dared not look at the crowd, dared not face it all. If she had the strength, she would have even wanted to disfigure herself, to become a ghost, so that she would not be recognized by the ancestors of the Jia family.

The moment the blade fell, it was as if a revolving lantern flashed through Grandmother Jia's mind.

As the eldest daughter of the Shi family, she married into the Rongguo Mansion during its most prosperous period.

The scene was undeniably grand, with all the kings, dukes, and even members of the royal family present.

Later, Jia Daishan inherited the title of Duke again due to his military achievements, surpassing other dukes and subtly suppressing the Ningguo Mansion, the main branch of the Jia family.

Those were her most triumphant days. She took meticulous care of the younger generation of her family, and the male members might rise to higher positions, while the female members could marry into the royal family.

They dreamt of their family's eternal prosperity and indulged in a life of extravagance, unaware that it was the last hurrah for the Jia family.

He and Jia Daishan rarely saw each other, and their relationship could not be described as anything special. In fact, when they last met, he was scolded to his face.

The root of all this may be traced back to one person.

There was no way to avoid this person; even though Grandmother Jia never wanted to hear his name again, it naturally came to mind at this moment.

Yue Ling, yes, it was he who bestowed upon the Jia family everything it has today.

Once upon a time, he was just a minor figure who respectfully addressed himself as "Old Lord" in the hall. But then he transformed into someone who could disregard her dignity and act recklessly, seemingly able to bring wealth and prosperity to the Jia family with a flick of his finger, or destroy it altogether.

Even the old Duke had to curry favor with him because of this.

Grandmother Jia never did anything wrong in her life, nor did she think she was wrong. Even as Yue Ling's power grew day by day and continued to expand, Grandmother Jia still did not believe that he would have a good ending.

But things didn't go as planned; she didn't live to see Yue Ling's downfall.

It's all over.

Perhaps, she was wrong?
With her mouth dry and her lips covered in dead skin, Grandmother Jia suddenly shed a single, glistening tear from her eye.

It was too late. The blade flashed, a head fell to the ground, and blood gushed out.

After being released from prison, Grandmother Jia dared not open her eyes, but after the execution, her eyes were wide open and she could not close them.

She owed the Jia family too much, but she never mistreated Jia Baoyu. However, Jia Baoyu was not among the crowd.

Yuanyang cried so hard she nearly fainted, scaring the crowd away, who circled around her to make way for an open space.

The corpses were taken away by the constables, and if no one took care of them, their final destination might be the bellies of wild dogs in a mass grave.

Yuanyang understood the reasoning. Seeing the execution platform being cleared, she dared not delay. She hurriedly stepped forward, pulled the hairpin from her hair, and bypassed the crowd to ask to see the officer in charge of collecting the corpses.

"Sir, please have mercy! I am a servant of the Rongguo Mansion. I hope you can just tug at my finger and do me a favor by leaving this corpse here."

The disposal of corpses is a well-known gray industry.

Unless His Majesty issues a clear decree, even the corpse of a heinous criminal can be secretly swapped for burial.

Especially since this is the corpse of Grandmother Jia, the once powerful head of the Rongguo Mansion, how could she be dismissed with just a hairpin?

The constable looked Yuanyang up and down, and Yuanyang instinctively crossed her arms to cover herself.

"Sir, don't underestimate this hairpin. It's made with the finest craftsmanship. If you take it to a pawnshop, you can get at least fifty taels. If you find someone who appreciates it, you could get more than a hundred taels."

"To be honest, this is all I have left. Even if the officials want more, I have no money left."

“I am still of low social status now. If I can find a good family in the future who can pay me a monthly allowance, I can save up and give it to the officials.”

The former head maid of the Rongguo Mansion could only resort to such pathetic tactics by the roadside, pleading with red eyes.

Upon hearing that this woman was of low social status and a government slave, they realized that she could still find a new home.

The constable's lips trembled slightly, revealing a somewhat indescribable meaning.

Taking the hairpin, he didn't forget to explain to Yuanyang, "I think you're a sensible person, so let me be more transparent with you. Although I'm just moving this corpse, I still need to get my official seal stamped. This silver isn't just something I take; I also need to bribe people up and down the chain of command."

Seeing that the constable had relented, Yuanyang felt relieved and thanked him repeatedly, "Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. I will never forget your great kindness."

The constable waved his hand and said, "Never mind, go and find some more silver."

"What?" Yuanyang asked in surprise, this was not what was agreed upon.

The constable continued, "This old lady was a respectable person in life. You should at least make her a coffin, right? You've been in prison for so long that you may not know, but recently, with the students causing trouble, the price of coffins has skyrocketed. I'm afraid even fifty taels won't be enough to buy good wood to make a coffin."

"You'd better go and think of a solution."

The mandarin ducks seemed to awaken from a dream, and hurriedly went to find their way.

Yuanyang was a servant born into the Jia family. Her parents lived in the old mansion in Jinling and had few connections in the capital.

The first place that came to her mind was the Ningguo Mansion.

After all, the Rong and Ning families were as close as family. The old lady had often helped them out and done things for them. Logically, she should also contribute money for a coffin.

But when she arrived at the gate of Ningguo Mansion, she realized what it meant for things to have changed beyond recognition.

Lai Er, the steward of Ningguo Mansion, was implicated and convicted because the Lai family's property was also searched during the confiscation of their property.

Yuanyang couldn't find a manager and waited for a long time before she bumped into Jia Qiang, who was about to leave, and was led into the front hall.

But when she arrived at the front hall, she felt regret.

In the past, with Grandmother Jia keeping them in check, these lecherous men could at least pretend to be upright gentlemen.

Today, Jia Zhen and his son Jia Rong sat in the hall, their eyes never leaving her for a moment. How could Yuanyang not understand their thoughts?

Setting down his teacup, Jia Zhen sighed and said, "We've known each other for a long time, so there's no need to beat around the bush. We've heard about what happened to our ancestor, but it's not appropriate for us to interfere."

Setting the tone for things first, then increasing the compensation you need, is a useful tactic.

“You know, that was a mistake that led to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan, and even worse, it implicated our entire Eastern Mansion, causing us to be punished as well. From a human perspective, we don’t want to get involved, for fear of getting ourselves into trouble, but since you’ve come to us for help, it’s not impossible to make an exception.”

The father and son, who looked exactly alike, had lecherous eyes and lewd smiles that made Yuanyang feel nauseous.

Perhaps in their eyes, the mandarin ducks that they dared not offend in the past can now be reduced to playthings, which makes them even more happy.

If it weren't for taking advantage of someone's vulnerability, Yuanyang might not have refused.

He stood up and shook the dust off his knees. "Since the master refuses, I will go look elsewhere."

Just as Yuanyang was about to leave, Jia Rong blocked her way, his eyes no longer concealing his true intentions.

"Go, where are you going?"

Jia Zhen pressed on relentlessly, "Besides me, is there anyone else who will pity you?"

"That's right. If you behave better, your father might reward you more."

Jia Zhen teased her, intending to make a move, but Yuanyang stomped her foot hard and said, "My lowly status is still on the official register. If you two ruin my body here, how will I explain it to the officials?"

"If this place doesn't work, there are plenty of other places to find money!"

Yuanyang thought to herself, "Perhaps Baoyu simply doesn't know the date of the old lady's execution. It wouldn't be too much for me to go and ask him for some silver to give her a proper burial..."

(End of this chapter)