The Red Mansion

Chapter 147 Interrogation of Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng

Although Wang Ziteng was demoted to the rank of general last year, the rank of general is a second-grade military officer, and his residence, located in the bustling inner city of Shenjing, is still referred to as "Wang's Residence".

The mansion seems to retain its former grandeur, with gleaming copper nails on the vermilion gate and two imposing stone lions before the steps. Inside, the mansion features carved beams and painted rafters, winding corridors, and pavilions nestled in the rear garden, surrounded by lush flowers and trees.

Wang Ziteng's second wife, Yuan Wancui, left the capital with her husband, and Wang Xi lived and guarded the Wang residence in the capital.

Wang Xi was the legitimate son and only son of Prince Teng, born to Prince Teng's first wife.

Wang Xi is twenty-six years old this year. He obtained an official position through donation in his early years and was later promoted to Censor. However, unexpected events occurred. In June of this year, he suddenly fell seriously ill. The imperial physicians shook their heads and sighed, saying that "the symptoms are serious and difficult to cure with medicine." Upon hearing the news, Wang Ziteng was extremely worried and asked for leave to return to the capital to visit him. However, after leaving the capital and returning to his residence, he received news that his nephew Wang Long had colluded with bandits to steal the Xue family's gold. He was even more anxious but could not ask for leave again.

This was during the license application period.

A group of soldiers suddenly rushed into the royal residence. The leader was Jiang Nian, who had changed into the hat and robes of a second-class guard. Behind him were two guards, Qi Jianyu and Dai Shijiao.

Wang Xi was in his study when he heard that the imperial guard Jiang Nian had come to arrest him on imperial orders. He was startled and hurriedly came out of his study. When he saw Jiang Nian, he said with dissatisfaction, "Guard Jiang, what is the meaning of this? What have I done that you would lead troops to surround my royal residence and arrest me?"

Jiang Nian had thought Wang Xi was bedridden, but upon seeing him, although he looked unwell, he was able to move around.

Although he had a grudge against Wang Ziteng, Wang Ziteng had already been punished. He had no grudge against Wang Xi and had no intention of bullying a patient.

Jiang Nian quickly recounted Wang Long's matter.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xi was struck dumb: "Such a thing...such a thing..."

Although he entered officialdom by buying his way in, as a censor, he knew that Wang Long had really committed a serious crime. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Wang Long conspired with Tan Fengchi and Luo Jiao to rebel.

Immediately, Jiang ordered his soldiers to take Wang Xi to the infantry camp prison.

At the same time, Ren Pijiang and Zou Jianyuan each led a group of men to capture Wang Zisheng, Wang Ren, and other male members of the Wang family in Beijing.

Wang Zisheng was the younger brother of Wang Ziteng, while Wang Ren was the elder brother of Wang Xifeng.

Prince Sheng was drinking and making merry at home with his beautiful concubine and maid when he saw the soldiers arresting people. He resisted arrest because he was drunk, but was eventually forced to the ground.

Wang Ren was engrossed in a gambling session when disaster struck. Zou Jianyuan grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him outside.

……

……

Rongguo Mansion.

It was the time when Grandmother Jia was having dinner. Inside Rongqing Hall, maids, servants, and old women were bustling about, carrying plates and serving cups, creating a lively atmosphere.

Grandmother Jia sat at the head of the table, flanked by Lin Daiyu, the three sisters of the Spring and Spring Festival, and Jia Baoyu. Madam Xing and Madam Wang were also seated there, along with Aunt Zhao, Aunt Zhou, and Li Wan. Wang Xifeng, having just finished her postpartum confinement, was still recuperating and did not come to serve her.

Grandmother Jia was placing a piece of goose breast with her chopsticks on Jia Baoyu's plate when she spoke, a rare occurrence during the meal: "My son, you haven't been eating well lately. Why don't you try this goose breast and see if you like it?"

Jia Baoyu thanked her with a smile and was about to pick up his chopsticks when a maidservant stepped forward and said, "Grandma, someone from the Wang family has come and says they have something urgent to report. They are waiting at the door."

Grandmother Jia frowned. What urgent matter had to come at this time, disturbing her dinner?

However, considering that Lady Wang was present, Grandmother Jia still ordered someone to come in.

Suddenly, a head maid from the Wang family rushed in, sweating profusely. She didn't even bother with the proper etiquette and said in a trembling voice, "Old Madam, Second Madam, something terrible has happened! Our master... our master has been captured by the Jiang family's son-in-law with his troops!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang was immediately shocked and thought to herself, "What? Has Wang Long's matter implicated my entire Wang family?"

Grandmother Jia was also startled and asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me in detail!"

The maid said, "Just now, Mr. Jiang from the manor led soldiers into our house and took away the sick Master Xi."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's face darkened, and she immediately ordered Yuanyang, "Quickly go and fetch Lian-ge'er!"

Before long, Jia Lian rushed over. Grandmother Jia ordered the Wang family's steward and servant to tell Jia Lian the situation again, and then solemnly said, "Go quickly and find Nian-ge'er to find out what happened."

Jia Lian dared not delay and quickly agreed, then turned and left Rongqing Hall.

The news spread like wildfire to Sister Feng's courtyard.

Wang Xifeng was leaning against the kang (a heated brick bed) drinking tea when she heard Ping'er's report. Her phoenix eyes widened immediately, she slammed her teacup down, and scolded, "That Jiang Nian! He's truly cold-hearted and heartless! He's our family's son-in-law, and the Second Madam's son-in-law! He shows absolutely no mercy and led troops to my uncle's house to arrest the ailing Wang Xi. Isn't he trying to kill someone?"

Ping'er quickly advised, "Grandma, please calm down. Young Master Jiang must be acting on orders and has no choice in the matter."

Wang Xifeng sneered, "Even if it's an imperial decree, they should have given us a heads-up beforehand! Now they've gone to arrest people without a word. Do they even care about the Second Madam? And what about me? Besides, Wang Xi is so ill. If anything happens to him, how could my Wang family let this go so easily!"

Wang Xifeng was both angry and shocked. She hurriedly asked Ping'er to do her makeup and dress her up before heading to Rongqing Hall.

When Wang Xifeng arrived at Rongqing Hall, she learned that Wang Zisheng and Wang Ren had been arrested, which made her even angrier and more shocked.

……

……

In Rongqing Hall, Grandmother Jia had lost her appetite.

Madam Wang's face was deathly pale, her hands moving rapidly through her prayer beads as she chanted "Amitabha" in her heart.

Madam Xing glanced at Madam Wang sideways, her expression impassive, but she was secretly plotting something.

Wang Xifeng unusually remained silent in front of Grandmother Jia.

Aunt Zhao tugged at Aunt Zhou's sleeve and whispered, "Look, with the Wang family falling, Second Madam and Sister Feng are going to lose power..." Aunt Zhou quickly winked at her to stop her.

Seeing the tense atmosphere and Wang Xifeng's silence, Yuanyang said to Grandmother Jia, "Grandmother, please don't worry. This matter is not yet clear. Let's wait for Second Master Lian to find out before we make a decision."

Grandmother Jia sighed, "Yuanyang is right. But the Wang family has been related to us by marriage for generations. How can we not be worried about them suffering such a misfortune?"

Suddenly, the gatekeeper's maid called out, "Second Master, Young Master Jiang, and Second Master Lian are here!"

Everyone was surprised; Jiang Nian had actually arrived!
Lin Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun hurriedly hid behind the green gauze curtain. All four were young ladies and it was inconvenient for them to easily see Jiang Nian, an outsider, even though Jiang Nian was the son-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion.

The maid lifted the curtain, and Jia Zheng was in front, Jiang Nian in the middle, and Jia Lian behind. The three of them filed in.

Jiang Nian was dressed in the uniform of a second-class imperial guard.

Grandmother Jia, whose eyesight was failing and who wasn't wearing glasses, didn't notice Jiang Nian's attire at first. After Jiang Nian finished bowing, she said coldly, "You have quite the ability, actually managing to win over all the young men of the Wang family!"

Jiang Nian remained calm and composed, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "This junior is merely carrying out an imperial order."

Madam Wang, unable to contain herself any longer, said in a trembling voice, "What does Wang Long's crime have to do with the Wang family in the capital? Are you suggesting we implicate the entire family?"

Jiang Nian looked around and said solemnly, "Wang Long has committed a grave offense this time!"

Then, Jiang Nian slowly recounted the whole story, saying that when Governor-General Chen Bina of Liangjiang was ordered to investigate Wang Long and Tan Fengchi, he sent his elite troops to surround and suppress them. However, Wang Long and Tan Fengchi led more than sixty thugs armed with weapons to resist arrest. In addition, more than a hundred members of the Luo Sect came out to help, killing one battalion commander and eleven soldiers. Wang and Tan then disappeared without a trace. Jiang Nian then introduced the Luo Sect and said, "Wang Long not only colluded with Tan Fengchi to plunder on the Grand Canal, but also secretly communicated with the heretical sect and killed government officials and soldiers. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was plotting a rebellion."

His words were like a thunderclap, silencing the entire room.

The handkerchief in Wang Xifeng's hand was twisted beyond recognition. She was usually bold, but now her face turned pale, and she cursed Wang Long in her heart.

Madam Wang's hands began to tremble.

Even Grandmother Jia was terrified.

The words "plotting rebellion" carry immense weight. If the Wang family is indeed involved in colluding with a cult to plot a rebellion, Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng will likely be implicated, and perhaps even the Rongguo Mansion will be affected.

Jiang Nian solemnly said, "His Majesty has now promoted me to Second-Class Imperial Guard and ordered me to thoroughly investigate the truth of the Wang family's collusion with the Luo Cult. If the Rongguo Mansion is involved, I shall also thoroughly investigate it and not show favoritism."

These words caused another stir among the entire room.

Even Yingchun, who was hiding behind the gauze curtain, was so frightened that she cried out, fearing that she would be implicated.

Jiang Nian solemnly said, "Wang Xi, Wang Zisheng, and Wang Ren have all been arrested and interrogated. The Second Madam and Second Mistress of the manor should also be interrogated. However, His Majesty, considering the past merits of the manor and the fact that the Second Madam and Second Mistress have married into the Jia family, has allowed the manor to arrange a quiet room where I can conduct the interrogation."

It would be impossible to easily arrest Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng and interrogate them in prison.

Moreover, Madam Wang is Jiang Nian's mother-in-law.

A commotion broke out inside the hall.

Behind the gauze curtain, Tan Chun secretly tugged at Lin Daiyu's sleeve, and the two exchanged a glance.

Jia Baoyu stood there in the hall, muttering to himself, "What should we do?"

Even the usually composed Li Wan couldn't help but clench her handkerchief tightly.

Madam Wang trembled all over, both frightened and furious. She no longer cared about maintaining a composed facade in front of Grandmother Jia. Pointing at Jiang Nian, she exclaimed, "What a dutiful son-in-law! He's actually interrogating his mother-in-law!"

Ignoring the presence of Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng, Wang Xifeng sneered, "Lord Jiang, what an air of authority you have! I'd like to see what tricks you can pull out of him!"

Jiang Nian said calmly, "Please forgive me, I am just following orders."

Seeing that things were not going well, Grandmother Jia glared at Madam Wang and then at Wang Xifeng, and said in a deep voice, "Shut up!" She then said to Jiang Nian, "Since you are acting on imperial orders, our household will naturally cooperate. However, don't forget that one of you is your mother-in-law and the other is your sister-in-law."

Jiang Nian cupped her hands and said, "Don't worry, Grandma, it's just a few questions."

Grandmother Jia immediately ordered a quiet room to be arranged in her courtyard, and said to Lady Wang and Wang Xifeng, "You may go now, I will wait here and see how Nian-ge'er interrogates you!"

These words were extremely harsh, and after saying them, he glared at Jiang Nian, clearly intending to support the two of them.

……

……

Dusk had already fallen.

In the quiet room set aside in Grandmother Jia's courtyard, the window reflected the flickering candlelight.

Madam Wang sat upright, her face ashen, the prayer beads in her hands creaking.

Jiang Nian sat at the desk, on which were placed writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, with a dim lamp burning.

"Mother-in-law," Jiang Nian tapped lightly on the table, "you really don't know about Wang Long's collusion with Tan Fengchi and the Luo Cult?"

Madam Wang said coldly, "I live deep within the Rong Mansion, how could I possibly know about the affairs of Wang Long, a member of the Jiangning branch family?"

Jiang Nian asked, "Do you know who else in your Wang family is colluding with Tan Fengchi or the Luo Cult?"

Madam Wang shook her head, her hairpins trembling, and said with displeasure, "Don't make false accusations! I know you had a grudge against my brother last year, but you have already married my daughter. Do you intend to disregard Yuan Chun's feelings and harm my entire Wang family this time?"

When it came to interrogating Wang Xifeng, she changed completely. Before Jiang Nian could speak, her eyes reddened: "Brother Jiang, we are relatives after all, why force me like this?" As she spoke, she even tried to grab Jiang Nian's sleeve. Jiang Nian dodged to the side and said solemnly: "Second sister-in-law, please have some self-respect. I am under imperial command and dare not show favoritism."

Wang Xifeng, having been rebuffed, immediately changed her expression and sneered, "What an incorruptible and impartial Guard Jiang! In that case, ask whatever you want!" With that, she leaned back in her chair, her phoenix eyes glancing sideways at Jiang Nian.

Have you ever heard the Wang family mention the Luo Cult?

"I know nothing about any of those Luo and Duan sects!" Wang Xifeng flung her handkerchief aside. "I'm too busy with my own affairs to care about such dirty business!"

Jiang Nian asked a few more questions, but Wang Xifeng remained indifferent.

Jiang Nian was not angry. She pushed the confession in front of Wang Xifeng and said, "Please sign and affix your seal."

Without even glancing at it, Wang Xifeng grabbed a pen and scribbled her name on it. The three characters "Wang Xifeng" looked like scribbles. She then threw the pen down on the table, splattering ink all over the paper.

Jiang Nian remained unperturbed.

According to his speculation, the Wang family was mostly just a group of people colluding with Wang Long, Tan Fengchi, and Luo Jiao. The male members of the Wang family's direct line, such as Wang Ziteng, Wang Zisheng, Wang Xi, and Wang Ren, were mostly unrelated to Tan Fengchi and Luo Jiao.

Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng were implicated and interrogated, losing face and becoming furious, which Jiang Nian could understand.

However, the imperial edict could not be disobeyed, and Jiang Nian had to follow it.

After a hasty interrogation of Madam Wang and Wang Xifeng, Jiang Nian left the Rongguo Mansion. It was already dark by then.

The Rongguo Mansion was in an uproar.

From the masters to the servants and maids, everyone was discussing it enthusiastically.

Some people admire Jiang Nian, while others complain about her...

In front of Lin Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun, Jia Baoyu couldn't help but say, "That brother-in-law Jiang is a mean-spirited person. He even interrogated my mother and my second sister-in-law."

“Brother-in-law Jiang is acting under imperial orders, how can he disobey them?” Tan Chun said in a low voice, then sighed, “He’s not much older than us, only sixteen this year, and he’s already a second-class imperial bodyguard. What will he be like in the future?”

Meanwhile, Aunt Zhao was overjoyed in her room, pulling her son Jia Huan aside and whispering, "After the Second Madam finished her interrogation, her face turned green, and so did Wang Xifeng. Now they've both lost face, and the Wang family is in big trouble. This is going to be a good show!"

After leaving Rongguo Mansion, Jiang Nian went to the Infantry Camp prison to interrogate Wang Xi, Wang Zisheng, and Wang Ren.

He knew that interrogating Wang Xi, Wang Zisheng, and Wang Ren would be a waste of time, but he still had to go through with the routine.

The key point is that he is about to travel to the south of the Yangtze River as an imperial envoy, and with the cooperation of Chen Bina, the governor-general of Liangjiang, he will arrest Tan Fengchi and Wang Long and ban the Luo sect.

I will see Aunt Xue again then.

(End of this chapter)