The Red Mansion

Chapter 136 Taking the Opportunity to Destroy the Lai Family

It's already mid-July.

The matter of the violent deaths of Jia Zhen and his son Jia Rong has come to an end.

The truth of the matter has spread, and even Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun have learned of it. Fortunately, although this incident damaged the reputation of the Rongguo Mansion, it did not result in any punishment for the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Jing is still focused on cultivating immortality at the Xuanzhen Temple outside the city, refining elixirs and mercury, and is unwilling to return to manage the household. Currently, all affairs of his household are handled by You Shi and Jia Qiang.

Jia Qiang was originally a legitimate great-grandson of the Ningguo Mansion. His parents died early, and he lived with Jia Zhen from a young age. He was even more handsome and charming than Jia Rong.

With no heir in Jia Jing's branch of the family, Jia Qiang, the legitimate great-grandson, took over.

Meanwhile, Jia Zhen's beautiful concubines and maids were almost all sent to the Shuiyue Nunnery to become nuns under the orders of Grandmother Jia.

Meanwhile, back at the Rongguo Mansion, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Qixi Festival, Wang Xifeng gave birth to a daughter. Although it was a joyous occasion, Jia Lian's scandalous affair with Qinglian was exposed, causing a great uproar throughout the city. This also greatly affected Wang Xifeng, making her feel like she was being torn apart, and she and Jia Lian became increasingly estranged. Ping'er, who was caught in the middle every day, felt even more miserable than a mouse caught in a cage.

As for Jiang Nian, since returning to the capital in mid-April after handling the case of Zhou Sankui, a salt smuggler in Laizhou, he has not been on duty for three months, and Emperor Taishun has not sent him any special envoys for three months.

It is common for guards to be idle, especially since Jiang Nian is only sixteen years old and has just been awarded a title for his meritorious service.

Jiang Nian remained calm and composed, diligently studying and practicing martial arts every day for the past three months to accumulate her inner strength. At the same time, she enjoyed her wonderful life with her wife Yuan Chun and concubine Xue Baochai.

……

……

On this day, the sun blazed overhead, its heat intense, and even the birds in the trees seemed listless, occasionally chirping weakly as if they had melted in the heat.

Lai Shangrong and Xie Jixing's group, after a long and arduous journey, finally arrived in Shenjing.

Upon reaching the eastern suburbs, Xie Jixing bid farewell to Lai Shangrong. Lai Shangrong went to the inner city, while Xie Jixing led two Xue family servants straight to the Jiang family's new residence in the eastern suburbs.

At this moment, Xue Baochai was in the west wing. She was dressed in a lotus-colored gauze shirt and a moon-white silk skirt, with a slight cinching at the waist, which accentuated her graceful figure. She held a copy of "Zhuangzi" in her hand and was reading it intently. Ying'er was beside her, bowing her head and knitting a knot. The room was quiet and peaceful.

Suddenly, Yao rushed in and reported to Xue Baochai, "Aunt, there is a man named Xie Jixing outside who says he is your brother's wet nurse. He has come from Jiangning to the capital and has come to request an audience."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's eyes flashed with joy, but she remained calm and composed. She first gently gathered her hair and straightened her clothes before going to the main house to ask Yuan Chun for permission.

While Jiang Nian was away from home, Yuan Chun was practicing the zither alone in her bedroom. When Jiang Nian was home, she usually didn't practice the zither so as not to disturb her, unless Jiang Nian wanted to hear her play.

Yuan Chun was seen lightly plucking the strings with her fingertips, and the sound of the zither filled the bedroom, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Seeing Xue Baochai enter, Yuan Chun stopped playing her zither and asked with a smile, "What brings you here, sister?"

Xue Baochai then reported Xie Jixing's visit.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun smiled and said, "Since he is a visitor from your family and your brother's wet nurse, and is already in his fifties, we should naturally lead him into the west wing to meet him." After saying this, she turned to Bao Qin and instructed, "The Xue family's visitor must have had a long journey. Tell the kitchen to send some chilled plum juice."

Xue Baochai thanked her and then instructed Yao to lead Xie Jixing into the west wing.

Xie Jixing, now in his fifties, still appears gaunt with slightly high cheekbones. His complexion is somewhat dark from years of hardship, and the wrinkles on his face are as deep as if carved by a knife.

He was dressed in a dark blue summer cotton long gown, with a dark towel tied around his waist and thick-soled black cloth boots. Although his steps were steady, his brows revealed anxiety.

Before any pleasantries could be exchanged, Xie Jixing exclaimed urgently, "Miss, something terrible has happened!"

Xue Baochai paused slightly in her hand holding the round fan: "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

Xie Jixing wiped the sweat from his brow and recounted in detail how the three thousand taels of gold had been stolen from the Grand Canal. He then raised questions, suspecting foul play, and finally lowered his voice to say, "I suspect that Lai Shangrong stole the gold!"

Xue Baochai was stunned when she heard this, and Ying'er, who was standing next to her, was so shocked that she covered her mouth and gasped softly, and the handkerchief in her hand fluttered to the ground.

Xue Baochai composed herself, recalling how her maid Xing'er had stolen her jade lotus hairpin before—a petty thief from the inner quarters who had quickly retrieved it. Now, however, her father's dowry of three thousand taels of gold—left to her on his deathbed—had been stolen by a notorious thief!

Xie Jixing handed two letters to Xue Baochai. Both letters were written by Aunt Xue herself, one to Xue Baochai and the other to Lady Wang.

Xue Baochai opened the letter her mother had written to her. Seeing the familiar handwriting, her fingertips trembled slightly. As she read it carefully, she saw that every word in the letter was filled with her mother's concern, and that the letter mentioned "the promised 30,000 taels of silver had been delivered." Thinking of how distressed her mother must be to know that the 3,000 taels of gold had been stolen, her eyes welled up with tears, but she held them back, clutching her handkerchief tightly in her hand.

Ying'er, watching from the side, felt a pang of heartache and softly called out, "Grandma!"

Xue Baochai took a deep breath, barely managing to calm herself, and said to Xie Jixing, "You must be tired from your journey. Go and rest outside the second gate first. This matter... allows me to think it over carefully."

After careful consideration, Xue Baochai decided to first report the matter to Yuan Chun...

……

……

At this time, Jiang Nian was practicing archery and horsemanship with He Yun, Meng Xiong and others at the Jiang family training ground in the eastern suburbs.

This training ground is a private training ground that Jiang Nian recently bought and built. It is specifically for him, He Yun, Meng Xiong and some male servants in the family to practice martial arts. They can practice long-distance archery on foot or on horseback.

Under the blazing sun, the sand shimmered and the air was thick with heat. On the training ground, yellow sand swirled and waves of heat rose. Jiang Nian, dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes with a towel tied around his waist, rode on his horse, his bow drawn to its fullest extent, his arrows flying like shooting stars, hitting the bullseye every time.

After practicing martial arts for half an hour, Jiang Nian returned to the Jiang family's new residence.

When I got home, my clothes were soaked with sweat, and even my boots were filled with sweat.

Suddenly, Xie Jixing appeared at the gate of the house. Jiang Nian paused for a moment, then chatted with Xie Jixing for a few words. Xie Jixing only said that Aunt Xue had sent him to the capital to see Xue Baochai, and did not mention the robbery of the gold without permission.

As Jiang Nian approached the second gate, the hanging flower gate, he saw Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai coming out to greet him. Yuan Chun wore a pale yellow gauze dress, and Xue Baochai wore a lotus-root pink gauze dress. Both women wore light makeup, but they could not hide the worry between their brows. Yuan Chun gently took a silk handkerchief and wiped Jiang Nian's sweat, saying softly, "Master, please go and bathe and change your clothes first. After you've changed, Baochai and I have some important matters to discuss."

Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, and knowing that they had already met with Xie Jixing, Jiang Nian knew that something important must have happened, so she said, "No need, let's go to the study to talk."

The three of them went to the study, where Yuan Chun and Xue Baochai recounted the robbery of the Xue family's three thousand taels of gold and explained Xie Jixing's doubts.

After listening, Jiang Nian pondered for a moment and then ordered Xie Jixing to be summoned.

A short while later, Xie Jixing entered, bowing slightly. After greeting him, he stood at the lower end of the table. Jiang Nian instructed him to recount the entire incident in detail. Xie Jixing wiped his sweat and began to recount...

After listening, Jiang Nian pondered for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "It's most likely that Lai Shangrong colluded with thieves to steal three thousand taels of gold!"

He said "most likely," but in his heart he was almost certain that Lai Shangrong had plotted to seize it!

Yuan Chun, Xue Baochai, and Xie Jixing had only suspected that Lai Shangrong had plotted to seize the property, but when Jiang Nian gave such a statement, the three of them were still somewhat astonished and stared at Jiang Nian, waiting for her instructions.

Jiang Nian's face showed no anger. Instead, the corners of her lips curled up slightly, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She thought to herself, "I've wanted to destroy the Lai family for a long time, but I've never had the chance. This time, it's perfect. Lai Shangrong walked right into my trap, saving me a lot of trouble!"

Jiang Nian ordered Xue Baochai and Xie Jixing to leave the study, leaving Yuan Chun alone to talk.

He slowly sipped his tea, turning the celadon covered bowl three times in his hands before gently setting it down. His gaze, clear as autumn water yet unfathomable, fixed on Yuan Chun, and he asked, "What does Madam think should be done about this matter?"

Yuan Chun had already given it much thought, and now she answered fluently, her voice gentle yet clear: "Three thousand taels of gold is an enormous sum, especially since it was a dowry bequeathed to Bao Mei’s father. It should be recovered. If it was indeed Lai Shangrong who did it, this man is unscrupulous and lawless, and he should be punished accordingly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian's smile deepened, and she deliberately spoke in a gentle tone: "One of the reasons Lai Shangrong dares to act so recklessly is because he relies on the protection of the Rong family. Perhaps he even thinks that I will hesitate to investigate him forcefully out of consideration for Madam's dignity. I intend to make a trip to the Rong family and, in front of the Old Madam and my father-in-law, request that the Rong family arrest Granny Lai, Mr. and Mrs. Lai, and Lai Shangrong and his entourage. If the facts are found to be true, they should be required to return the three thousand taels of gold and then handed over to the authorities for punishment! What does Madam think?"

These words, though spoken gently and softly, concealed a hidden, threatening force.

Yuan Chun's fingertips trembled slightly, and the jade bracelet on her wrist bumped against the corner of the table with a dull thud. She looked slightly embarrassed and said, "That's how it should be. But Granny Lai and her husband are both well-regarded in the Rong Mansion, especially Granny Lai. The old lady trusts her implicitly, and the old lady is kind. The second master is also kind and has never been harsh on the servants. I'm afraid they... won't follow the eldest master's idea."

Jiang Nian gently stroked the teacup, still speaking in a gentle tone: "If the Rong family does not agree, then don't blame me for not considering our kinship; I will directly call the authorities to arrest them!"

Seeing that although he spoke gently, there was a hint of murderous intent between his brows, Yuan Chun felt even more embarrassed. She pondered for a moment and said, "I will go with you, sir, and do my best to persuade the old lady to agree to arrest the Lai family so that you can interrogate them."

Jiang Nian nodded: "That's fine too."

Jiang Nian dismissed Yuan Chun and then summoned Xue Baochai privately. With a resolute expression, she said, "Don't worry about this matter. I will definitely get the three thousand taels of gold back for you as soon as possible!"

Xue Baochai lowered her head, hesitant in her heart, twisting the handkerchief in her hand again and again, her slender fingernails leaving several fine marks on the silk.

The composed and prudent woman did not want this matter to cause the mistress, Yuan Chun, to lose face or damage her relationship with Yuan Chun. However, the three thousand taels of gold were her dowry left to her by her father on his deathbed, and it would be a real shame not to get it back. The fact that this gold had been stolen from her made her truly furious.

After hesitating for a while, Xue Baochai said softly, "Thank you for your consideration, sir, but..." She raised her eyes to look at Jiang Nian, then quickly lowered them again, "Please consider the dignity of the lady."

In fact, she had already guessed that this matter would inevitably cause Yuan Chun to lose face, but she still had to say it outwardly.

……

……

Although Granny Lai and her husband were servants of the Rongguo Mansion, they owned a large mansion in the western part of the capital, not far from Ningrong Street. This mansion was more than twice the size of the Jiang family's new residence, and it had a back garden with exquisite rockeries and winding paths with flowing water forming streams.

The household had dozens of servants, and the maids were all dressed in silk and satin, moving about in a manner that was even more impressive than that of ordinary officials' homes.

That afternoon, Lai Shangrong, accompanied by Cailan, returned to the Lai family mansion.

Cai Lan wore an apricot-red gauze dress, with kingfisher feather hairpins adorning her temples, making a tinkling sound as she walked.

When Lai Shangrong learned that his parents were both on duty at the Rong Mansion and that his grandmother, Granny Lai, was at home, he was secretly delighted and went straight to Granny Lai's courtyard.

The three main rooms where Granny Lai lived were all made of nanmu wood with lattice windows. The window frames were carved with endless swastika patterns, and a gilded plaque hung in the center. Various parrots, thrushes and other birds hung under the eaves.

Two young maids dressed in red and green were feeding Lai Shangrong with silver spoons when they saw him arrive and hurriedly bowed.

Lai Shangrong is the only grandson of Granny Lai. Granny Lai dotes on him no less than Grandmother Jia dotes on Jia Baoyu, even though Lai Shangrong is already twenty-six years old this year.

At this moment, Granny Lai was reclining on the lacquered couch, smoking a water pipe. Upon seeing her beloved grandson return, she was overjoyed and chanted Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha! I've finally got my precious son back!" She took Lai Shangrong's hand and looked him up and down: "My son, you've been gone for more than two months. How come you've lost so much weight? Did you have a hard journey?"

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Granny Lai, Lai Shangrong suddenly straightened his expression and said in a low voice, "Please dismiss everyone, Grandmother."

Granny Lai was taken aback and wondered, but because she doted on her grandson, she didn't ask any further questions. She simply waved to the maids and servants in the hall and said, "You may all leave now."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent and withdrew, leaving the hall quiet for a moment.

Once the servants had all left and no one was around, Lai Shangrong suddenly knelt down on the blue brick floor with a thud, the sound of his knees hitting the bricks clear and distinct. He feigned remorse and said in a trembling voice, "Grandmother, your grandson has committed a terrible crime on this trip to Jiangnan!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Lai's heart tightened suddenly. Her old eyes widened abruptly, and her wrinkled face instantly lost its color. Her pipe trembled slightly, and her voice also trembled: "My little ancestor! You...you didn't kill someone outside, did you?"

Lai Shangrong recounted in detail his plot with Wang Long to seize three thousand taels of gold from the Xue family, and even made no secret of his sordid plan to buy the courtesan Jing Qing.

Halfway through the conversation, Granny Lai's pipe clattered to the ground, and she froze on the couch like a clay or wooden sculpture, unable to move for a long time.

After speaking, Lai Shangrong pretended to wipe away tears, but he didn't actually shed any. He then deliberately prostrated himself on the ground and cried out in a mournful voice, "Your grandson was confused for a moment and made a terrible mistake! Now I only ask for your grandmother's protection! If this matter is exposed, it's a small matter if your grandson suffers misfortune, but it would be a big deal if it implicates the whole family!"

He knew he couldn't hide this from Lai Da and his wife, so it was better to be honest than to lie. After all, Granny Lai had always doted on him, and Lai Da and his wife had indulged him in every way. If he confessed, Granny Lai would protect him, and Lai Da and his wife would protect him too.

(End of this chapter)