The Red Mansion

Chapter 173 Chaos erupts in the Rong Mansion, and Sister Feng suffers misfortune.

In the afternoon, the sky remained overcast, with low-hanging leaden clouds, making it look like it was about to snow.

At this time, Lu Keduo, the military governor of the capital, was leading a large number of soldiers to search and confiscate the residence of Prince Teng, which was located in a prosperous area of ​​the inner city of Shenjing.

The copper nails on the vermilion gate of the Wang residence seem to have lost their former luster; the two stone lions in front of the steps still bar their teeth and claws, but their eyes seem to reveal a hint of dejection; the carved beams and painted rafters inside the house are still there, and the winding corridors are still there, but they all seem to have faded and worn; the back garden is a desolate scene.

Rucodo had expected to find a great deal of wealth in the royal residence today, but he was disappointed.

Most of Wang Ziteng's valuables were taken out of the capital. The Wang residence in the capital was originally to be lived and guarded by his only son, Wang Xi, who had been arrested earlier.

From morning to afternoon, only a small amount of valuables and some female servants were confiscated from the mansion.

The female servants were detained in the front yard, weeping and wailing.

Instead of feeling pity, Rukodo was annoyed and about to lash out when a military officer rushed over, presenting a notice with both hands: "Sir, this has been found on the wall outside our yamen!"

Ruco took it and looked at it; the handwriting was crooked and distorted, like earthworms crawling, and it read:

"Lady Wang of Rongguo Mansion and Wang Xifeng hid Wang Xifeng's parents outside the city, and now they have hidden the Wang family's wealth in Sister Feng's courtyard inside the mansion."

Lu Keduo read it carefully, a glint of insight flashing in his eyes. A seasoned official with extensive experience, he judged that although the anonymous accusation was written in simple language and the handwriting was crooked, it was mostly true. He thought to himself, "Those two women from the Rongguo Mansion are courting death!"

Upon receiving the notice, Rukodo immediately set off on horseback straight for the palace.

The sky grew increasingly gloomy, with leaden-gray clouds hanging low as if they were about to fall.

Upon arriving at the palace, Lukodo hurriedly handed over a plaque, saying he had urgent business to discuss with Emperor Taishun.

Not long after, an imperial edict came from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, summoning Lukodo to an audience.

Upon entering the warm pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, one sees the underground heating system burning brightly, filling the room with a spring-like warmth.

Emperor Taishun, dressed in casual clothes, sat cross-legged in front of his desk.

After bowing deeply, Lucodo explained the matter of the notice in detail and presented the notice with both hands, the handwriting of which was crooked.

Emperor Taishun took the notice, examined it closely, frowned slightly, his lips tightened, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the imperial desk.

"This matter involves the Rongguo Mansion, and that Wang Shi is Yi'er's mother-in-law..."

Thinking of this, Emperor Taishun said to Lukodo, "Go to the Qianqing Palace immediately to consult the Emperor Emeritus. The Emperor Emeritus shall make the decision on this matter."

Rukodo dared not ask any further questions and accepted the order to leave.

In the warm pavilion of Qianqing Palace, Emperor Jingning heard that Lu Keduo was requesting an audience, and immediately straightened his clothes and sat down.

After Rucodo came in, he explained the whole story in detail.

Emperor Jingning raised his white eyebrows slightly, took the invitation and read it, but did not speak immediately.

Rukodo stood with his hands at his sides.

The warm pavilion was utterly silent for a moment.

After a long silence, Emperor Jingning slowly spoke: "In that case, go to the Rongguo Mansion. Focus on investigating that Fengjie Courtyard. Interrogate the two women of the Wang family within the mansion. Only arrest them if you encounter any obstacles during the interrogation. Find out the truth and then report back to me."

Emperor Jingning now harbors resentment towards the Rongguo Mansion, partly due to the affair involving Jia Zhen and Jia Rong.

Therefore, he will not be overly protective of the Rongguo Mansion today.

When Lukodo left the Qianqing Palace, he found that it was already snowing, and quite heavily...

……

……

Yesterday, it snowed lightly in the capital city, but this afternoon, a heavy snow fell.

Snowflakes danced in the air like torn cotton, enveloping the vast Rongguo Mansion.

Inside Rongqing Hall, the underfloor heating was burning brightly. Grandmother Jia was reclining on the couch, with Lady Wang and Wang Xifeng chatting beside her. Ping'er was also there.

"Don't worry," Grandmother Jia said, glancing at Lady Wang and then at Wang Xifeng. "Although the Wang family has suffered misfortune, you have been married into the Jia family for many years and are already members of the Rong Mansion. You haven't committed any crimes, and the court is discerning and will not implicate you."

Feeling guilty, Madam Wang forced a smile and said, "The old lady is right."

Wang Xifeng was even more uneasy.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a commotion outside. Grandmother Jia frowned and said, "Who's out there in this freezing weather...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Zhixiao's wife rushed in in a panic, not even caring about manners: "Grandma, something terrible has happened! The Commander of the Capital Garrison has led a large number of soldiers into our mansion and is heading straight for Second Madam's courtyard!"

Grandmother Jia was shocked: "What?"

Wang Xifeng was stunned, and Ping'er was also terrified.

Grandmother Jia stood up shakily, staring at Wang Xifeng and said, "What...what have you done?"

Wang Xifeng's lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word.

The group hurried to Sister Feng's courtyard.

Upon arriving at Sister Feng's courtyard, they saw a large group of soldiers surrounding them. Jia Lian was standing in front of Lu Keduo, and the two were arguing.

"What are you doing!" Grandmother Jia shouted.

Lucodo turned around and saw an elderly lady with silver hair. He quickly asked, "Are you the Duchess of Rongguo?"

Seeing that Grandmother Jia nodded, Lu Keduo cupped his hands and said, "I am Lu Keduo, the military governor of the capital garrison. I have come to confiscate the stolen goods on the orders of the Emperor Emeritus." After saying that, he took out the notice, which read, "Someone has reported that the women of your household are secretly hiding the Wang family's property."

Grandmother Jia took the invitation, but her old eyes were too dim to see it clearly. She could only see that the handwriting was crooked and twisted, like earthworms crawling.

Madam Wang leaned forward for a look and was immediately filled with surprise and doubt—she had no idea that Sister Feng had hidden the Wang family's valuables!

After reading the accusation, Wang Xifeng forced herself to remain calm and said, "This is purely a slanderous accusation by a villain!"

Rucodo said in a deep voice, "Whether it's a false accusation or not, a quick search will tell us."

The north wind grew stronger, and the snow fell even more heavily, with dense, goose-feather-like snowflakes.

Lu Keduo, Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng, Ping'er, and others stood in the courtyard.

Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhou also came to observe.

The officers and soldiers then searched the room.

Lady Wang's face was ashen, and Wang Xifeng was even more disheveled, her body trembling.

"Reporting to you, sir!" a military officer rushed in, "Several boxes of valuables were found in the room!"

A glint flashed in Lu Keduo's eyes, and he cupped his hands to Grandmother Jia, saying, "Does Grandmother wish to come and examine it?" Grandmother Jia remained silent and followed Lu Keduo inside. Lady Wang, Aunt Zhao, Aunt Zhou, Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng, Ping'er, and others also followed.

Upon entering the room, one sees several boxes lined up, their lids all open, revealing gleaming gold ingots, silver ingots, pearls, agate, jade bracelets, and more.

Wang Xifeng suddenly rushed forward and cried out in a shrill voice, "This is all my dowry!"

However, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang knew that Wang Xifeng's dowry did not contain so much gold and silver jewelry. If it was not hidden Wang family property, then it was serious embezzlement in the Rongguo Mansion.

Just then, a soldier shouted, "Sir, we have a house deed!"

Ruco took a stack of property deeds, but saw that they were all signed by Prince Qi.

Upon seeing this, Wang Xifeng's face turned ashen, and her fingernails, coated with balsam juice, dug deeply into her palms.

"Report—" Another soldier carrying a sandalwood box exclaimed, "We've found this!"

Lu Keduo opened it and found a box of loan receipts. After looking through it, he glared at Wang Xifeng and sneered, "Not only are you hiding stolen goods, but you also dare to violate the rules and profit from them!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian abruptly looked up, staring blankly at Wang Xifeng. He suddenly recalled the suspicious behavior he had witnessed from Wang'er and his wife on several occasions…

At this moment, Wang Xifeng was truly like a clay or wooden sculpture, not even blinking her eyes.

Grandmother Jia trembled with anger, lamenting inwardly, "What a tragedy! How could my Jia family have married such a woman..."

The wind and snow outside were lashing against the window, as if trying to break in and see what was going on.

Just as things were in chaos, they suddenly heard the clatter of boots, and Jia She and Madam Xing arrived through the snow.

Jia She, wearing a sable cloak, his face reddened by the cold wind, entered the room and exclaimed, "What's all this commotion?" But after seeing the scene inside and learning what had happened, he immediately fell silent.

Madam Xing gasped as she looked at the several boxes of gold and silver treasures, but secretly she curled the corners of her mouth in a smirk.

Lu Keduo said to Madam Wang, "Madam is a person with an imperial title. I will give you face and also save face for the Rongguo Mansion. If you tell the truth immediately, I will not take you to the yamen for questioning." These words were polite, but sharper than a knife.

Upon hearing the words "take it to the yamen," Madam Wang swayed involuntarily.

"This matter...this matter was all done by Feng Ge'er!" Madam Wang suddenly said, her voice piercingly sharp, "It has nothing to do with me!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng suddenly looked up, her phoenix eyes first showing shock, then turning ashen.

Well, when disaster strikes, this aunt tries to pin all the blame on her!
Luco stared at Madam Wang: "Tell me the truth about what you know!"

Lady Wang looked anxiously at Grandmother Jia, only to see the old lady with a cold face, her cane slamming heavily on the ground. At that moment, Lady Wang inexplicably recalled the time Jiang Nian had interrogated her. At the time, she had been furious, but now she felt that Jiang Nian's attitude during the interrogation had been so kind…

“More than a month ago…” Madam Wang’s voice trembled, “Feng’er’s parents came to the capital. Because all the men of the Wang family were arrested, Feng’er… hid them outside the city. But for some reason, Feng’er brought her father’s wealth to the mansion.”

After saying this, Madam Wang glanced at Wang Xifeng, her eyelids blinking rapidly. Wang Xifeng understood that she was being forced to bear this enormous disaster alone.

Ruco pressed, "Where is it hidden outside the city?"

Madam Wang bit her lip and finally uttered a place name.

Wang Xifeng heard it clearly, and her body went limp. If Ping'er hadn't supported her, she would have collapsed to the ground. She never expected that this aunt, who usually ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist prayers, would be so decisive in selling her own niece.

Lu Keduo turned to Wang Xifeng: "Now that things have come to this, why don't you tell the truth!"

Wang Xifeng was as if she had lost her parents, and allowed Lu Keduo to interrogate her without saying a word.

Lu Keduo said to Grandmother Jia, "Please persuade her to tell the truth, otherwise I will have no choice but to take her, her husband, and their servants to the yamen for imprisonment and interrogation."

Jia Lian, who had been stunned, pointed at Feng Jie and cursed upon hearing this, "You wicked devil! You're courting death and trying to drag me down with you!"

Seeing this, Grandmother Jia hurriedly said, "Do you want to drag Lian-ge'er into a lawsuit with you?"

Wang Xifeng slowly raised her head, first glaring at Jia Lian—this husband with whom she had shared a bed for several years, now looked so repulsive; then she looked at Grandmother Jia—the old lady's disgust was undisguised; finally she looked at Lady Wang—this aunt whom she usually flattered, now quietly hiding behind the old lady.

Suddenly, Wang Xifeng collapsed to the ground.

"Grandma!" Ping'er rushed to the ground, hugged Wang Xifeng, and cried with tears streaming down her face.

Wang Xifeng gave a bitter laugh: "Yes, I hid my father's valuables. My parents... have already fled..."

At that moment, Jiang Nian's face suddenly appeared before her eyes. If she hadn't been so calculating and had tried so hard to curry favor with Jiang Nian, perhaps she wouldn't have ended up in this predicament.

……

……

After Lu Keduo finished his interrogation, he bowed to Grandmother Jia and said, "Madam, Wang Xifeng is a wanted criminal by the court. Out of consideration for your family's reputation, I will not arrest her for the time being, but will wait for the imperial decree. I hope you will keep a close watch on her. If she gets lost..." At this point, he looked around at everyone meaningfully, "I'm afraid the entire Rongguo Mansion will be in trouble."

Having said that, he led his officers and soldiers, carrying several boxes of valuables, and sped away.

My footsteps pounded, crushing the snowflakes on the ground.

No sooner had he left the Rongguo Mansion than Lu Keduo hurriedly ordered one of his military officers to lead a squad of soldiers to arrest Prince Ziqi and Madam Feng.

In Fengjie's courtyard, after the soldiers left, Wang Xifeng suddenly pointed at Aunt Zhao in the crowd and said to Grandmother Jia, "Grandmother, you are wise! It must have been these despicable people who did this! That notice must have been written by her!" Her voice was hoarse, her hair was disheveled, and her gold phoenix hairpin was askew by her temple. Where was the former majesty of Second Mistress Lian?

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhao immediately slapped her thigh and wailed, "Heaven above! I never leave the house, how could I write any denunciation? You yourself have broken the law, yet you try to frame me..."

Before she could finish speaking, Grandmother Jia suddenly slammed her cane heavily on the ground: "Shut up, all of you!"

Grandmother Jia was trembling with anger. Pointing at Wang Xifeng, she scolded, "You wretched child! You've committed such a terrible crime that led to the confiscation of our property, and you still won't behave yourself. You're trying to implicate others!" She then glared at Aunt Zhao and said, "You better shut up!"

Aunt Zhao immediately fell silent and shrank behind Aunt Zhou, but secretly gave Wang Xifeng a wry look.

Seeing this, Wang Xifeng's heart sank even lower.

She suddenly realized that, even if there were evidence to prove that Aunt Zhao was behind it, given that Aunt Zhao was the birth mother of Tan Chun and Jia Huan, and Jia Zheng's favorite concubine, the old lady would not severely punish Aunt Zhao. As for herself... she suddenly felt ridiculous and laughable. In the past, she despised Aunt Zhao as if she were dirt under her feet, but now she was not even as good as that dirt!

Aunt Zhao returned to her small courtyard and couldn't help but burst out laughing as soon as she entered. She kicked off her embroidered shoes, sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them open, saying to Jia Huan, "My son, did you see that? That Feng-ge'er has finally met his end!" After saying that, she chuckled again.

The Rongguo Mansion was in an uproar.

Lin Daiyu held Tan Chun's hand and whispered, "I never imagined that Sister Feng would..." The words caught in her throat, and she could only let out a sigh.

Yingchun twisted her handkerchief, at a loss for what to do.

Xi Chun said coldly, "I knew she was greedy, but I didn't expect her to be so foolish."

The maids gathered in twos and threes in a corner. One said, "I heard they found several boxes of gold." Another said, "Second Mistress used to deduct our monthly wages. It turns out she was lending money at exorbitant interest rates." They chattered like sparrows in the forest.

In Fengjie's courtyard, Ping'er was combing Wang Xifeng's hair, while Wang Xifeng stared blankly at herself in the mirror, muttering, "I never imagined that I, Wang Xifeng... would become such a joke."

The north wind howled outside the window, swirling snowflakes that pelted against the glass, making a soft, rustling sound, as if in response.

(End of this chapter)