The Red Mansion

Chapter 141 The Demise of the Lai Family
With a sense of unease, Jia Lian walked through the halls and courtyards until he arrived at the outside of Rongqing Hall.

The maids, who had been whispering amongst themselves, fell silent when Jia Lian approached. Even the various parrots, thrushes, and other birds hanging on the verandas seemed to fall completely silent.

A maid lifted the felt curtain, and Jia Lian entered the hall. He saw Grandmother Jia leaning against the couch, her face so gloomy it seemed to drip water. At this moment, Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun had all gathered in the hall. Jia Baoyu stood next to Lin Daiyu, and the three sisters stood according to their age order.

Jia Lian, without even wiping the sweat from his brow, hurriedly stepped forward and reported to Grandmother Jia, "Grandmother, the Lai family members and others in the mansion have all been handed over to Magistrate Jiang of Shuntian Prefecture for safekeeping."

As he spoke, Jia Lian continued, "That Lady Lai actually tried to escape through the back door of the mansion, but fortunately she was caught by the yamen runners guarding the back door. His Majesty has ordered her arrest. If she were to escape, it might implicate our mansion."

Upon hearing that the Rongguo Mansion might be implicated, Grandmother Jia immediately became dissatisfied with Lai Da's wife: "That foolish woman! Her son is innocent, why did she have to run away?"

Tan Chun stood to the side, thinking to herself, "If Lady Lai hadn't been guilty, why would he have come to this?" But she couldn't say it aloud.

Jia Lian looked around at everyone and saw that the room was completely silent. He continued to say to Grandmother Jia, "In my opinion, Lady Lai is feeling guilty. She was extremely dejected after being arrested. Granny Lai and Grandpa Lai are also feeling guilty and dejected. I think that this time it is most likely that Lai Shangrong colluded with thieves to steal the Xue family's gold."

When Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, and Madam Wang heard this, they were all stunned.

Li Wan stood there like a clay or wooden sculpture, hoping in her heart that this turmoil would pass soon.

Lin Daiyu's slender fingers gently twisted the silk handkerchief, and her dewy eyes turned slightly.

Yingchun's face showed worry. She was always timid and afraid of trouble, and she was afraid that this turmoil would implicate her.

Tan Chun's eyes gleamed, and she thought to herself, "Brother-in-law Jiang is indeed capable. He not only deduced that it was Lai Shangrong who plotted to seize it, but he also acted so swiftly and decisively."

Xi Chun watched coldly from the sidelines, a hint of sneer and a touch of mockery playing on her lips.

Jia Baoyu loathed such things. At this moment, staring at Lin Daiyu's slightly shifting, dewy eyes, he hoped that this turmoil would pass quickly so as not to affect him and his sisters.

Madam Wang paused for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "If it's true that Lai Shangrong colluded with thieves, could it implicate our household?"

Jia Lian glanced at Grandmother Jia's face, swallowed hard, and sighed, "If we had followed Brother-in-law Jiang's suggestion yesterday and arrested and interrogated the Lai family members ourselves, even if it was Lai Shangrong who did it, it shouldn't have implicated our family." His voice trailed off, "However, this matter has now alarmed His Majesty. This time, His Majesty has issued the decree to arrest them, and His Majesty is making the decision personally. Perhaps... perhaps it will implicate our family."

Grandmother Jia's face immediately turned ashen.

Madam Xing was also panicked at this moment: "What...what should we do?"

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but sigh deeply, as if a thousand-pound burden weighed on her voice: "If I had known it would turn out this way, I should have agreed to Jiang Nian's request yesterday..." After saying this, she suddenly coughed, and Yuanyang hurriedly brought her a spittoon to take it.

Seeing Grandmother Jia's state and the panic of everyone in the room, Jia Lian quickly said to her, "Grandmother, please don't worry. I was just speculating. This case may not have been committed by Lai Shangrong. Even if it was, it probably wouldn't have implicated our household."

When Grandmother Jia heard this, she could not calm down.

……

……

When Jiang Linghuang led dozens of constables to Rongguo Mansion to arrest people, Jiang Nian led hundreds of constables in a grand procession straight to the Lai family mansion, which was not far from Ningrong Street.

At Jiang Nian's command, half of the constables instantly dispersed, surrounding the Lai family mansion like an iron barrel. Jiang Nian then personally led the other half of the constables, rushing into the mansion.

Dozens of servants of the Lai family were inside the house, including some maids dressed in fine silk. When the officials suddenly burst in, they were immediately thrown into chaos. Some screamed and ran away, while others stood frozen in shock. One of the bolder stewards stepped forward and shouted, "Where did these officials come from, trespassing..." Before he could finish speaking, he was seized by Meng Xiong and handed over to the yamen runners for custody.

Taking advantage of the absence of Granny Lai and the Lai family, and having drunk alcohol, Lai Shangrong brazenly engaged in sexual intercourse with Cailan, a courtesan he had bought from Jiangning, in broad daylight. Just as they were reaching the height of their passion, they suddenly heard a commotion outside. Startled, Lai Shangrong hurriedly rolled off the bed and grabbed his clothes.

However, before he could put on his clothes, the door was kicked open with a bang.

Jiang Nian, leading Meng Xiong and several constables, rushed in like wolves and tigers.

Na Cailan screamed and shrank into the corner of the bed, wrapped in the brocade quilt.

Lai Shangrong stood there naked, feeling both ashamed and angry. He hurriedly tried to put on his clothes, but in his haste, he tripped over his belt and fell to the ground with a thud.

Several yamen runners couldn't help but chuckle.

Jiang Nian coldly watched Lai Shangrong hastily put on his clothes, then waved her hand and said, "Take him down!"

Meng Xiong led two constables forward and dragged Lai Shangrong out like a dead dog.

Cai Lan was then taken away as well.

Jiang Nian and Meng Xiong searched Lai Shangrong's bedroom and study but failed to find any evidence related to the robbery of the Xue family's gold, which was within Jiang Nian's expectations.

At this moment, Jiang Linghuang, escorting Granny Lai, Mr. and Mrs. Lai, and others, arrived at the Lai family mansion and met with Jiang Nian.

When Granny Lai and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Lai, saw that their home had also been targeted by officials, and that Lai Shangrong, his wives and concubines, Cailan and Hui'er, and all the servants of the Lai family were being held in the courtyard, the three of them were utterly distraught. Granny Lai's legs went weak, and she almost collapsed, but was supported by the yamen runners.

Granny Lai and her husband saw Jiang Nian dressed in a guard's uniform, coldly staring at them with eyes like knives and swords, sending chills down their spines. They both hated and feared her intensely, like grasshoppers in autumn, unable to hop around in front of Jiang Nian.

As agreed by Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang, Granny Lai, Lai Da and his wife, Lai Shangrong and his wife, Cailan and Hui'er, as well as all the male servants of the Lai family, were taken to the Shuntian Prefecture government office for interrogation. The remaining female relatives were temporarily imprisoned in a courtyard within the Lai family mansion.

Jiang Linghuang appointed an honest and upright subordinate to lead a group of yamen runners, along with Meng Xiong, to guard the Lai family mansion. This was to protect the Lai family's property and prevent any female relatives from escaping. In addition, Jiang Linghuang would also send some strong women to guard the mansion.

……

……

A prison was located on the west side of the Shuntian Prefecture government office, with a prison warden in charge of prison affairs.

The prison was divided into inner prison, outer prison, and women's prison. It was of a higher standard than the prisons of ordinary government offices, but much smaller than the prisons of the Ministry of Justice, with a capacity of only one hundred prisoners.

Fortunately, the Shuntian Prefecture prison currently holds only a few dozen prisoners. Otherwise, with so many people arrested from the Lai family this time, they wouldn't be able to hold them all.

Jiang Nian had planned ahead and separated Granny Lai, Lai Da, Lai Da's wife, Lai Shangrong, Lai Shangrong's legal wife, Cailan, and Hui'er into different cells.

In a dark room in the prison, Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang interrogated Hui'er first. When Hui'er was brought to the dark room, she saw the eerie walls and flickering candlelight, and her legs went weak, causing her to kneel down with a thud. When asked about Lai Shangrong's collusion with thieves to steal, she could only weep, her face streaked with tears, repeatedly saying, "I really don't know, and my young lady doesn't know either..."

Next, Cai Lan was taken to the dark room, where she was so frightened that her legs went weak and she knelt down with a thud. Even though she was in prison, the woman could not hide her charming demeanor, and her disheveled hair had a unique charm.

Cai Lan truly didn't know the truth. Kneeling, she said, "I sensed something was amiss that day. Those bandits didn't rob me or hurt anyone; they only took Master Lai's... Master Lai's chest of silver." She choked up as she spoke, "I truly didn't know Master Lai was colluding with those thieves. I beg you two gentlemen to see the truth. I am innocent. Please don't implicate me. Just let me go. If I, a woman, have to spend the night in this filthy place, how can I face anyone afterward!"

Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang exchanged a glance, both agreeing that what Cai Lan said was mostly true.

He immediately ordered his men to take Cailan back to the prison.

As Cai Lan was leaving, she turned back to look at him, tears glistening in her eyes.

Thinking of her, once a performer in brothels and pleasure boats, now she is imprisoned, weeping in despair.

Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang then interrogated Lai Shangrong's wife, who was unaware of the truth.

Then they interrogated Lai Dajia. Lai Dajia was taken into the dark room. Although she was trembling with fear, she was stubborn and insisted that her son Lai Shangrong was innocent no matter how Jiang Nian questioned her.

Seeing her so ungrateful, Jiang Nian was secretly annoyed and almost resorted to torture. But then she thought that she was investigating the case by imperial decree and that using torture to extract a confession would make her seem incompetent. Besides, it wasn't time to resort to torture yet.

Then they brought in Granny Lai. She was disheveled, her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her brand-new indigo satin vest was all wrinkled. She looked as if she had suddenly transformed from a pampered old noblewoman into a filthy and lowly old beggar.

Granny Lai was forced to kneel on the ground, her knees hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Jiang Nian's expression was very stern, and he said in a deep voice: "Just now, this guard and Lord Jiang have interrogated Cai Lan and Lai Da's wife, and both of them have confessed truthfully. In particular, Lai Da's wife has revealed in detail that Lai Shangrong colluded with thieves to steal three thousand taels of gold from the Xue family!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Lai was struck dumb, and her face turned deathly pale.

Seeing this, Jiang Nian raised her voice: "We are interrogating you now, and I advise you to confess the truth! Only in this way can we save your life and the lives of Lai Da and his wife, and also protect your family property. This case was committed by Lai Shangrong, and you are only implicated by him. Although your son Lai Da is middle-aged, he can still have children, so that you can have grandchildren and continue the Lai family line."

Upon hearing this, Granny Lai's heart was immediately filled with hope. If she and her son Lai Da could save their lives and retain their family property, and if her son Lai Da could give her a grandson, it would be a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune. However, she still wanted to keep her grandson, Lai Shangrong.

Jiang Nian abruptly changed the subject, then said sternly, "This case is being investigated by order of Lord Jiang and me. If you dare to conceal anything or remain obstinate, you will be adding insult to injury. At that time, your entire Lai family will be executed, and your decades of accumulated wealth will vanish into thin air. It will be too late for regrets!"

To Granny Lai, these words were like knives, each one drawing blood.

Jiang Nian slammed the gavel again: "Tell me the truth now!"

Granny Lai was so terrified by the shout that she knelt down and cried out, "My grandson may have been at fault, but it was all instigated by that Wang family boy! If it weren't for that heartless scoundrel from the Wang family, my grandson would never have dared to do such a thing..."

Jiang Nian was immediately overjoyed, but her face remained calm and dignified.

Jiang Linghuang, standing to the side, glanced at Jiang Nian. Although he already knew that the young guard had such a plan, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "What a fine guard Jiang! So young, yet he has such cunning methods. No wonder he has the backing of the Thirteenth Prince and is favored by the Emperor. He is a force to be reckoned with!"

……

……

Once Granny Lai's defenses were breached, she immediately poured out everything she knew, like water bursting its banks.

Once Granny Lai confessed, and after further questioning of Mr. and Mrs. Lai and Lai Shangrong, the whole story of the case came to light.

Thus, Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang learned that the case was a conspiracy between Lai Shangrong and Wang Long, and that the so-called river bandits were actually Tan Fengchi and his men in disguise. Tan Fengchi was a martial arts master who openly ran a martial arts school in Jiangning, but secretly he was the leader of a secret gang.

Lai Shangrong and Wang Long had an agreement: Wang Long was to send someone to deliver Jing Qing, a courtesan from Qimeng Courtyard, along with five hundred taels of gold, to the "Guanxia Inn" outside the West Gate of Shenjing City at 9:00 AM on the 11th of August. One hundred taels of gold was to be used as collateral for the box of one thousand taels of silver that Lai Shangrong had deliberately allowed the "water bandits" to steal that day.

Through interrogating the Lai family members, Jiang Nian also learned that Granny Lai and her husband, Lai Da, had embezzled a great deal of money from the Rongguo Mansion over the years. Relying on the Rongguo Mansion, they had also acquired many shops, properties, and fields outside the mansion, and their businesses were thriving. Lai Er and his wife had also embezzled a considerable amount from the Ningguo Mansion. Relying on the Jia family, they had also acquired many shops, properties, and fields outside the mansion.

Jiang Nian had a plan to implicate Lai Er.

Last year, Lai Er was flogged one hundred times and exiled three thousand miles because of Jia Zhen, Qin Keqing, and Peng Jizhong, but his family property remained untouched, and Lai Er's wife is still working for You Shi.

Jiang Nian intends to take this opportunity to uproot the Lai family and destroy the entire Lai clan.

……

……

The following day, Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang went to Changchun Garden in the western suburbs to request an audience with Emperor Taishun.

Upon arriving at Changchun Garden, the two were summoned by an eunuch shortly afterward. They straightened their clothes and entered Danning Residence, where they discovered that the Thirteenth Prince was with Emperor Taishun.

Jiang Nian and Jiang Linghuang immediately performed a grand ceremony of worship.

Emperor Taishun slightly raised his hand, signaling the two to rise.

In front of Emperor Taishun and the Thirteenth Prince, Jiang Nian recounted the details of the interrogation.

As Emperor Taishun listened, his brows gradually furrowed into a deep frown, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

After listening, Emperor Taishun angrily said, "How dare Wang Long and Lai Shangrong! They actually colluded with bandits to plunder property and caused trouble on the Grand Canal. They have no respect for the law!"

Upon seeing this, the Thirteenth Prince bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. These petty villains are nothing but clowns; they should be severely punished."

Emperor Taishun immediately issued an edict, ordering Jiang Nian to take full charge of searching and confiscating the Lai family property, including the property of Granny Lai, Lai Da's family, and Lai Er's family. He also ordered the Thirteenth Prince to mobilize troops under Jiang Nian's command to assist in the confiscation of the property.

The Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture and his yamen runners were generally not qualified to handle the task of confiscating property.

Emperor Taishun granted Jiang Nian's request and ordered Jiang Nian to set up an ambush and arrest people at the "Guanxia Inn" on the eleventh day of the eighth month.

Another imperial edict was sent to Jiangning, ordering Chen Bina, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, to arrest Wang Long, Tan Fengchi, and their associates without fail!

(End of this chapter)