The Red Mansion

Chapter 171 Baochai, Long Time No See

After Jiang Nian finished dinner, rinsed her mouth, and washed her hands, it was already dusk, with the evening clouds blending in.

He sat by the window in the inner room of his study, flipping through a register. This register had been given to him by Chen Bina, the Governor-General of Liangjiang. The ink on the register was grim, listing the key members of the Luo sect who were currently imprisoned, including the old officials and managers of the various sects that had been banned.

The Luo religion has a large following, so it's impossible to arrest them all. According to Jiang Nian's plan, the main purpose this time is to dismantle the Luo churches, burn their scriptures, and severely punish the preachers. The so-called preachers range from high-ranking figures such as the sect leader, protectors, and venerable ones, down to the old officials and managers of the 108 local churches.

Jiang Nian lightly brushed the pages with her fingertips and saw the five characters "Jiangning Wharf Temple". She focused her attention and read carefully. The old man in charge of this gathering was named Hu Baishun. There were several people in charge, including one named "Gu Xiang". A small note next to the note read: "His nickname is Gu the Cripple. He used to be a kidnapper."

Jiang Nian's gaze suddenly froze—the words "Gu the Cripple" instantly stirred up old memories.

He clearly remembered that when Wang Dian sold Xiangling to him, he mentioned that Xiangling was bought from a kidnapper nicknamed Gu the Cripple. Xiangling was kidnapped by Gu the Cripple in Suzhou and was often abused and beaten.

"Gu the Cripple who kidnapped Xiangling has become the manager of the Luo Cult's temple fair at the Jiangning Wharf and is currently imprisoned in the Jiangning Prefecture jail? Hmm, once I confirm this, this Gu the Cripple will not escape death!"

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Nian's eyes.

If he simply adds a line to the register for Gu the Cripple: "He has been a human trafficker for many years and has also joined a cult; he deserves to be executed," then this scoundrel will be sentenced to death.

Such a kidnapper deserves to die, especially since he can avenge Xiangling.

The following morning, Jiang Nian went to the Jiangning Prefecture prison in person and confirmed that Gu Xiang, the manager of the Luo Sect's Jiangning Wharf Temple Association who was being held there, was the one who had abducted Xiang Ling.

Jiang Nian also personally interrogated Wang Zibin and others, confirming that Wang Zibin was indeed a disciple of Luo Jiaoshan.

……

……

The sun was shining brightly that afternoon.

Aunt Xue and Xue Jin were busy preparing at the Xue family mansion to welcome the imperial envoy, Jiang Nian. The maids, servants, and other household staff were bustling about, setting out tea and fruit, burning incense, dusting, and wiping utensils.

Aunt Xue wore a light purple jacket with a front opening, paired with a light pink skirt, and a gold hairpin inlaid with pearls in her hair. Her whole demeanor was elegant and noble.

Xue Baoqin wore a light pink silk jacket over an apricot-yellow Xiang skirt, with a white jade hairpin in her hair, looking elegant and charming.

At this moment, Aunt Xue, Xue Jin, Xue Pan, Xue Ke, and Xue Baoqin were gathered together, discussing sending Xue Pan to find out where Jiang Nian was when they suddenly heard a commotion outside.

Xue Jin frowned and quickly ordered Xue Ke to go and check. A short while later, Xue Ke rushed in, panting, and said, "It's terrible! Those collateral branches are causing trouble again!"

Aunt Xue's face turned pale, and she gripped her handkerchief tightly in her hand.

Xue Pan snorted coldly and said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll go out and take a look!"

Having said that, he strode out.

Aunt Xue was naturally worried, so she quickly followed behind, and Xue Jin, Xue Ke, and Xue Baoqin also hurried to catch up.

Upon entering the gate, they saw a large, dark crowd gathered outside, all members of the Xue family's collateral branches. There were elderly men with graying hair and beards, middle-aged men standing with their hands on their hips, young men with their sleeves rolled up and fists clenched, and also some women of all ages.

Upon seeing this, Xue Pan was immediately enraged and shouted, "Why are you all causing trouble in front of my house again today? This is outrageous!"

Before the words were finished, a burly, middle-aged man with a fierce face stepped forward from the crowd. He was Xue Pan's cousin, Xue Biao. He raised his hand and pointed directly at Xue Pan, shouting sternly, "Brother Pan! You good-for-nothing spendthrift, how dare you be so insolent in front of your elders?"

Xue Pan was choked by his shout, his face flushed red, and he dared not utter another word. After all, he was a junior, and he was somewhat afraid of Xue Biao. Xue Biao was known for his fierceness and held considerable power in the clan.

An old man stepped out from the crowd; he was Xue Jin's cousin and Xue Pan's great-uncle. He pointed at Aunt Xue and shouted, "Now the entire Wang family has suffered misfortune. You, the spendthrift woman of the Wang family, haven't you brought enough harm to our Xue family? You'd better leave our Xue family as soon as possible!"

Aunt Xue was so angry that her face turned ashen and she swayed twice.

Enraged by this, Xue Pan stepped forward and shouted, "You...you dare to be so insolent! This is my home, and my family is the direct line of the Xue family!"

Xue Biao sneered and said sarcastically, "Now that even Grandfather Jia is no longer protecting the Wang family, what can you and your son rely on? Pan-ge'er spends his days fighting cocks and chasing dogs, indulging in brothels and squandering the family fortune. How can he uphold the Xue family's reputation? You two are going to ruin this ancestral legacy! In my opinion, it would be better to divide it among the various branches of the family as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, the members of the collateral branches were filled with indignation and echoed his sentiments:

"That's exactly right!"

"That's how it should be!"

"..."

Several hot-blooded young men rolled up their sleeves and raised their fists, ready to rush into the mansion. The servants of the Xue family hurriedly tried to stop them, and the two sides pushed and shoved, pulling and tugging, creating a chaotic scene.

Just as things were getting out of hand, they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar.

Everyone turned to look and saw a group of people approaching the mansion. The leader, dressed in the uniform of a guard, was young yet solemn and dignified; he was none other than the Imperial Envoy, Jiang Nian. Beside him were He Yun and several personal guards, each one imposing and intimidating.

Upon seeing Jiang Nian arrive, Xue Pan immediately straightened his back and deliberately pointed at Jiang Nian, loudly proclaiming to the Xue family's collateral branches, "Everyone, take a good look! This is my closest brother, and also my brother-in-law—the Imperial Envoy Jiang Nian!" With that, he strode forward and said to Jiang Nian, "Brother Jiang, you've come at the right time! Quickly help me judge this matter!"

Jiang Nian reined in her horse and stopped, her gaze sweeping over the crowd like lightning. She said calmly, "Why is there such a commotion here?"

Xue Pan quickly explained the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian frowned slightly, looked at Xue Biao and the others, and said coldly, "The Xue family is a prominent family in Jiangning. You are members of a collateral branch of the family. Instead of maintaining harmony within the clan, you have gathered a crowd to cause trouble. What kind of behavior is this?"

Xue Biao forced himself to remain calm and bowed, saying, "Your Honor, we are not being unreasonable; we are simply seeking justice! Xue Pan spends his days gambling, chasing dogs, indulging in debauchery, and squandering our family fortune. His mother is also a spendthrift, causing the decline of our Xue family's wealth. We simply want to reclaim our ancestral property and revitalize our family!"

Jiang Nian snorted coldly and shouted, "Insolence! The Xue family's assets are to be inherited by the direct descendants. How dare you covet them? Guards, seize this troublemaker!"

Upon receiving the order, the guards pounced forward like wolves and tigers. Xue Biao tried to resist, but was kicked to the ground and pinned down, unable to move.

Jiang Nian said in a deep voice, "Take this man to the Jiangning Prefectural Government and have Prefect Jia interrogate and severely punish him! For a collateral branch of a prominent family to covet and seize the direct line's property is no small crime!"

Upon seeing this, the rest of the collateral branches were terrified and scattered like birds and beasts.

Seeing that the commotion had subsided, Aunt Xue felt a great weight lifted from her heart and was extremely grateful. She quickly took Xue Baoqin and stepped forward to give Jiang Nian a deep bow, saying, "We are so grateful to Lord Jiang for upholding justice today!"

Jiang Nian waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities." Aunt Xue glanced at Jiang Nian's dignified demeanor and thought to herself, "In the end, it's still good to have a powerful man to rely on. Otherwise, we are just a widow and her child, and anyone can bully us."

Thinking about this, she unconsciously thought of her deceased husband, and her eyes reddened.

Xue Baoqin was initially terrified by the disturbance caused by the collateral branches of the Xue family. She watched as her aunt turned pale with anger, her father, Xue Jin, though trying to remain calm, lacked authority, and her cousin, Xue Pan, was simply jumping up and down in a fit of rage, completely disorganized. Just as she was filled with panic, Jiang Nian suddenly rode in on horseback. With her imposing presence, she subdued everyone with a few words, and even ordered her personal guards to seize Xue Biao, the ringleader of the disturbance. The members of the collateral branches immediately scattered like birds and beasts, and her heart pounded with fear.

While stealing glances at Jiang Nian, Xue Baoqin thought to herself, "He is so young yet holds such a high position, and he acts so decisively. He is truly a hero!" Thinking of this, she felt her face flush slightly and quickly lowered her head, feeling her heart pounding.

Aunt Xue quickly composed herself, forced a smile, and invited Jiang Nian inside. Xue Jin also bowed in acknowledgment, while Xue Pan was even more attentive, personally leading the way.

After everyone took their seats in the flower hall, Aunt Xue, intending to play matchmaker, said with a smile, "Qin'er, why don't you quickly pour tea for Lord Jiang?"

Xue Baoqin's face flushed slightly as she poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Nian. Seeing Jiang Nian looking at her with a smile, she felt as if she were on fire and quickly lowered her head and looked at her obediently.

Seeing this, Aunt Xue smiled. Xue Jin pretended not to see it, Xue Ke saw it but kept silent, and Xue Pan was completely unaware, only concerned with getting close to Jiang Nian.

After sipping the tea, Jiang Nian suddenly said, "I came here today with the intention of visiting Baochai's former residence."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan immediately stood up and said, "I'll go with you!"

Aunt Xue glared at Xue Pan and scolded, "You're so clumsy, what do you know? It's only right to have Qin'er accompany you." Without waiting for a reply, she ordered Xue Baoqin to lead the way.

Xue Baoqin had no choice but to agree and led Jiang Nian towards the inner courtyard. Along the way, she walked slowly with her head down, her heart pounding like a drum. She felt the gaze of the person behind her was like a torch, burning her back. They arrived at a quiet courtyard, where they saw a blue brick path and swaying tree shadows. It was Xue Baochai's former residence.

Upon entering the courtyard, one is greeted by an old pear tree with gnarled and strong branches. Although it is early winter and the leaves have fallen, one can still imagine the magnificent scene of pear blossoms like snow in spring.

Jiang Nian paused and gazed at the tree, then softly asked Xue Baoqin, "How many years has this pear tree been planted?"

Xue Baoqin chimed in, "I don't know how many years it has been, but when my sister was at home, she loved this pear tree, and she loved the pear blossoms even more. It's a pity that it's not the season for pear blossoms to bloom right now."

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, recalling how Xue Baochai had once smiled and said softly to him, "I love pear trees the most. When the pear blossoms are in full bloom, they are as white as snow, the whole tree is covered in snow, and the whole courtyard is covered in snow."

As Jiang Nian walked through the courtyard, he suddenly saw a swing hanging under the eaves. Xue Baoqin followed his gaze and said softly, "My sister and I used to swing here. She would always let me sit first and then push me from behind..." After saying this, her eyes reddened slightly, and she quickly turned her face away.

Jiang Nian remained silent, then pushed open the door. The room was bright and clean, the furnishings as before. The glass mirror on the dressing table was still there, and a round fan lay on the small table on the embroidered couch, as if its owner had just left. Jiang Nian walked slowly over, her fingertips tracing the bed curtains and the table. In a daze, she seemed to see Xue Baochai sitting by the window, pen in hand, deep in thought.

He closed his eyes, and suddenly, a song from his past life surfaced in his mind—

"I came to your city, walked the road you once walked, and imagined how lonely you must be without me... Will you suddenly appear at the corner coffee shop, and I will wave and greet you with a smile, sit down and chat with you... to say just one thing, just one thing, long time no see."

She opened her eyes to find the room completely silent. Xue Baoqin remained silent, with only the rustling of the pear branches in the wind outside the window.

"It's a pity I can't take pictures!" Jiang Nianxin sighed inwardly. "If I could take a few pictures here and bring them back to the capital, I wonder how happy Baochai would be when she sees them."

Seeing his melancholy expression, Xue Baoqin assumed he was simply moved by the scene before him, and said softly, "If you miss your sister, why don't you return to the capital soon?"

Jiang Nian snapped out of her daze and forced a smile: "Yes, it's time to go back."

At that moment, he suddenly felt an overwhelming longing for the distant eastern suburbs of Shenjing and for that woman as beautiful as a pear blossom.

……

……

It was October 22nd, and winter had already arrived in the capital city. Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun had both returned to the imperial palace in the city from Changchun Garden.

Today, a biting north wind blew, dark clouds filled the sky, and a snowstorm swept down.

Inside the warm pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the underfloor heating was burning brightly, filling the room with a spring-like warmth, creating a world apart from the snowy weather outside.

Emperor Taishun was engrossed in reading the secret memorial sent urgently from Jiangning by Jiang Nian.

This secret report details the various matters concerning the suppression of the Luo sect up to October 16th, and mentions that Prince Bin was a virtuous and talented member of the Luo sect...

In his secret memorial, Jiang Nian proposed: a headman should be appointed for every ten grain transport boats, and boat owners should mutually guarantee each other's rights; a "Grain Transport Administration Department" should be established at the Qingjiang Confucian Temple in Huai'an to select the sons of grain transport workers to attend school, and those who pass the examination should be allowed to enter the government office as officials; some of the Luo sect members who voluntarily surrendered should be retained as "eyes and ears"...

These measures not only prevented the resurgence of the Luo religion, but also facilitated the grain transport.

Finally, Jiang Nian requested to return to the capital!
Attached is a list of those who have been awarded merits, including Situ Jing, the garrison commander of Suzhou City, Wang Dian and his son Wang Mao'an, two hundred elite cavalrymen from Jiangning... and even Murong Zheng, the protector of the Luo Sect. Jiang Nian had promised to save his life and would not break his promise, but suggested that Murong Zheng be imprisoned for life.

After reviewing the documents, Emperor Taishun couldn't help but marvel at them. He was pleased that Jiang Nian had handled things efficiently and had already confiscated over three million taels of silver, but he was also astonished by the sheer power of the Luo Cult.

After a moment's hesitation, Emperor Taishun got up and went to the Qianqing Palace next to the Yangxin Hall.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the retired Emperor Jingning was enjoying the snow and brewing tea in the West Warm Pavilion when he saw Emperor Taishun arrive despite the snow and ordered him to sit down and serve tea.

Emperor Taishun presented the secret memorial, and Emperor Jingning put on his glasses to examine it closely. He exclaimed in surprise, "If it weren't for Yuan Yi's swift and decisive actions, if the Luo Cult had rebelled, Jiangnan would have been in great chaos, and Jiangnan is the financial lifeline of our Great Qing!"

Emperor Taishun sighed and said, "Yi'er is truly a genius. If Chen Bina had been in charge of cracking down on the Luo Sect, I'm afraid it would have taken him a year to complete the task."

Chen Bina was a confidant of Emperor Jingning, and in Emperor Taishun's view, this Governor-General of Liangjiang was unreliable. He was now deliberately saying this in front of Emperor Jingning.

Emperor Taishun then discussed with Emperor Jingning how to deal with the Wang family. He presented another secret memorial to Emperor Jingning, which listed many crimes committed by Prince Teng over the years, including arrogance, tyranny, greed, jealousy, and cruelty.

Furthermore, the Wang family members of the Wang clan, Wang Zibin and Wang Long, colluded with the Luo sect; one was a benevolent member of the Luo sect, and the other was a troublemaker.

Emperor Taishun then proposed: "Your subject believes that Prince Teng should be dismissed from office and punished immediately, and his family property should be confiscated."

The sound was not loud, yet it was as chilling as the snow falling outside the palace.

The warm pavilion was utterly silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of silver charcoal crackling.

Emperor Jingning pondered for a long time, then finally closed his eyes and nodded...

(End of this chapter)