The Red Mansion

Chapter 248 Imperial Edict Issued, Prince Yuan Yi

The next day was May 11th.

Suddenly, an imperial edict was issued in Changchun Garden: Prince Hejian, who had been in charge of the Imperial Clan Court for more than ten years, was relieved of his important post as the head of the Imperial Clan Court, and the successor was Prince Zhongyi, Yuan Xiang!
This change was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, causing panic and whispers among the people of some princely residences and noble families.

The following day, May 12th.

The sky was overcast, and it started raining early in the morning. The rain was quite heavy, enveloping the pavilions, towers, green trees, and red flowers in Changchun Garden in a misty haze.

In the morning, after Prince Zhongyi finished his audience with the Emperor at Danning Residence, he received a secret decree from Emperor Taishun and, leading a group of entourage, walked along the slippery road towards a house. This house was temporarily used as a detention center; although it lacked the strictness of the Bixie (a mythical beast), its doors were tightly closed and guards stood in rows.

Inside the room, the third prince, Yuan Shi, sat huddled up. His python robe was wrinkled, and his former arrogance was gone. His face was ashen, his eyes were sunken, and his hair was disheveled.

Upon seeing Prince Zhongyi enter, Yuan Shi rushed over like a drowning man grasping at a floating weed, grabbing Prince Zhongyi's sleeve and asking urgently, "Thirteenth Uncle! Has Father changed his mind? Is he going to release me? Has Father pardoned me?"

His voice was hoarse, yet filled with intense anticipation.

Prince Zhongyi remained calm and composed, subtly withdrawing his sleeve and saying indifferently, "His Majesty has already decreed that your title be stripped. I have come here on imperial orders to escort you to your place of confinement."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shi froze on the spot, his face ashen. He had still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking that his father's furious outburst of "stripping him of his title and placing him under house arrest" the other day was just a fit of anger, and that things would eventually turn around. Little did he expect it to be true! And so quickly, so decisively!
In a daze, he was "invited" outside.

The raindrops hitting his face jolted him awake, and he suddenly remembered the crucial point. He hurriedly took two steps forward and asked Prince Zhongyi, who was walking ahead, in a trembling voice, "Thirteenth Uncle! Father... Father, where do you intend to confine me? Is it my father's residence?"

He still held onto hope that if he could be confined to his own mansion, with his wives, concubines, and maids by his side, he wouldn't be too miserable.

Prince Zhongyi paused slightly but did not turn around. He stared at the misty rain ahead, his voice flat and devoid of emotion: "When we get there, you will know."

Yuan Shi's voice grew increasingly terrified, almost trembling with sobs: "Could it be...could it be that this isn't my father's residence? My father won't allow me to stay with my family? Thirteenth Uncle! Where...where are they sending me?!"

However, Prince Chung-Yi remained silent and offered no further response.

This silence seemed to instill more despair in Yuan Shi than any reprimand.

There was no time for Yuan Shi to struggle; someone stepped forward and "helped" him onto a blue-curtained carriage that had been prepared beforehand. The group of people then escorted the prison carriage out of Changchun Garden and onto the official road back to the inner city of Shenjing.

The carriage rumbled along, its curtains tightly closed, yet unable to block out the sound of the pattering rain outside.

Yuan Shi sat alone in the carriage, his face ashen. He could hear the sound of the wheels rolling over the mud, the horses' hooves splashing in the water, and the endless, seemingly never-ending rain. What lay ahead? Only a vast expanse of darkness. The rain seemed not to fall on the ground or the carriage, but rather it poured down on his heart, extinguishing his delusions.

The group of people walked slowly through the rain, passing through the majestic city gates of the inner city of Shenjing.

Inside the carriage, Yuan Shi trembled as he lifted the curtain. He saw the streets shrouded in mist from the rain, with vendors hurrying by and wine and tea flags swaying weakly in the wind and rain...

Such a scene of fireworks, which he used to ride past on horseback without ever lingering, has now become a worldly prosperity that is both desirable and unattainable.

The thought of being imprisoned, not knowing when he would see the light of day again and return to the bustling city, filled him with fear and anxiety.

Instead of heading towards Yuan Shi's father-in-law's residence, the carriage entered the imperial city and eventually stopped in front of a secluded courtyard.

This small courtyard, with its blue bricks and gray tiles, was deserted and desolate. The old locust tree in front of the gate, its branches and leaves sparse from the rain, made it appear even more forlorn. This place was originally an idle official residence under the name of the Imperial Household Department, usually ignored by everyone, but now it had become a prison for Yuan Shi.

Yuan Shi was "invited" out of the carriage, and the rain immediately soaked his python robe. He looked around blankly and saw that the courtyard was heavily guarded by soldiers from the Imperial Household Department, surrounding the small residence like an iron barrel.

Once inside the residence, Prince Zhongyi's voice rang out from the side, each word like a dagger striking: "From this day forward, you shall remain here and reflect upon your mistakes. Your daily life and all your needs shall be taken care of by servants from the Imperial Household Department. You need not inquire about matters outside, nor shall you have any contact with anyone."

These words were like a judgment. Yuan Shi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight up to the top of his head!

This was clearly an attempt to completely isolate him from the world! Not only were his wives and concubines forbidden from seeing him, but even his birth mother, Consort Qi, was likely kept outside. From then on, this small mansion became his only world, with only a few eunuchs and servants who were like mute puppets accompanying him; they were both his servants and his watchers.

Royal family scandals should not be made public, so this method of seclusion is used to completely erase him from the world!
Such methods were even used on his own son, demonstrating the cruelty of Emperor Taishun!
Yuan Shi, who had been pampered and indulged since childhood, became even more arrogant after his father ascended the throne, considering himself a member of the imperial family. He had never suffered such humiliation before, nor had he ever imagined that he would fall into such a desperate situation.
Overwhelmed by terror, he disregarded the muddy rain and fell to his knees with a thud. He grabbed Prince Zhongyi's leg and burst into tears, wailing, "Thirteenth Uncle! Your nephew knows he was wrong! Please, I beg you, plead for me before Father! Please, Father, have mercy on me..."

Rainwater mixed with tears streamed down his face, making him look utterly disheveled.

Prince Zhongyi looked down at Yuan Shi, a complex expression flashing across his eyes, which ultimately turned into a long sigh: "Alas! If only you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? Did you heed a single word of my advice in the past? Now the die is cast, the Emperor's will is made, it's all your own doing, what good will it do to beg me?"

After saying that, she gently pulled her hand away from Yuan Shi's and turned to walk out of the courtyard gate.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shi struggled to chase after him, but was blocked by two burly soldiers at the door with expressionless arms, as if he had bumped into a cold iron wall.

He could only watch helplessly as the black lacquered courtyard gate slammed shut behind Prince Zhongyi, separating the two worlds.

Yuan Shi was completely exhausted and collapsed in the muddy rain, utterly dejected.

Suddenly, the scene from the day before flashed into his mind—when he went to Prince Zhongshun's mansion to find his third uncle, his third uncle was watching a play. On the stage, the play "The Dream of Nanke" was being sung, specifically the "Love's End" scene. Chunyu Fen had experienced all the glory and wealth in Huai'an Kingdom, but when he awoke from his dream, everything had vanished...

At this moment, in this rain, under this confinement, he was suddenly horrified to realize: his less than three years as a prince, with his servants at his beck and call, his ostentatious and extravagant life, was nothing but a fleeting dream in the Kingdom of Huai'an! Now that he had awakened from the dream, the bond between father and son was severed, the family ties were broken, and all that remained was this desolate wind and bitter rain!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but prostrate himself on the ground and weep bitterly, but his cries were swallowed up by the sound of the pattering rain.

……

……

That afternoon, the sudden rain stopped. Summer weather changes quickly. In an instant, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, and the sun shone brightly again. The trees in Changchun Garden were washed clean and looked lush and green, and the dripping water from the eaves made a tinkling sound.

Jiang Nian was temporarily detained in a "cell" within the garden. Though called a "cell," it was actually a room, and its furnishings were not sparse: a bed, a desk, two official's hat chairs, and a tea table. He had been imprisoned there for two days, yet his official robes as a second-class imperial bodyguard remained neat and tidy, and his expression was calm and composed, showing no signs of weariness. He knew that Emperor Taishun's imprisonment of him was not a bad thing!

Two days of confinement were nothing to him. Back in Yangzhou, he had endured ten days of torment, confined to a meditation room in the imperial palace by the retired Emperor Jingning, without seeing the light of day. This current situation felt more like a peaceful rest.

However, the summer heat, amplified by the rain, became even more oppressive and humid. Having gone two days without a bath, I felt slightly sticky and uncomfortable. Furthermore, I was constantly worried about my family, fearing something might have happened there.

At this moment, he was sitting by the window, flipping through a book on his desk, namely the "Classic of Filial Piety".

Both Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun valued the study of the Classic of Filial Piety. Emperor Jingning's father also valued it. This great-grandfather of Jiang Nian personally wrote a commentary on the Classic of Filial Piety and compiled the Imperial Edition of the Classic of Filial Piety, modeled after Zhen Dexiu's "Extended Meaning of the Great Learning" from the Southern Song Dynasty. It was not completed until the twenty-first year of Jingning's reign.

Strangely enough, just yesterday Jiang Nian mentioned to the gatekeeper that she wanted to read a book and asked him to find one. This matter actually reached the ears of the Emperor, who ordered someone to send her a copy of the "Classic of Filial Piety," which is dedicated to the ethics of filial piety.

The deeper meaning behind this is worth pondering...

Just as I was engrossed in reading, I suddenly heard the door creak open.

Jiang Nian looked up and saw a man enter with a smile. He was dressed in Jiang silk casual clothes and had a dignified demeanor. It was Prince Zhongyi! The man following closely behind him was Bao Yan, a third-rank first-class guard of Prince Zhongyi’s mansion, who was an old acquaintance of Jiang Nian.

At this moment, Bao Yan was holding a sandalwood tea tray with two small, colorful covered cups from the Chenghua kiln on it. Steam rose slightly, and the aroma of tea was already subtly wafting through the air.

Jiang Nian hurriedly stood up, straightened her clothes, and respectfully bowed, saying, "This humble servant Jiang Nian greets Your Highness!"

Prince Zhongyi smiled warmly and offered a helping hand, saying, "No need for formalities." He then sat down on the official's chair and pointed to the opposite side, saying to Jiang Nian, "Bring the other chair over here."

Jiang Nian repeatedly said "I dare not," declined several times, and then moved another official's hat chair in front of the desk to the opposite side of Prince Zhongyi. Then, she leaned to the side and sat down.

Prince Zhongyi gestured to Bao Yan to place the tea tray on the table, then personally picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Nian, saying with a smile, "The weather is damp after the rain, a cup of hot tea is just right. Keep me company for a while."

Jiang Nian hurriedly bowed and accepted the tea with both hands. Her fingertips touched the warm porcelain cup, and a sudden jolt went through her: the methods of the imperial family were unpredictable. This sudden, unexpected offering of tea by the Thirteenth Prince—could it be that the Emperor had ordered her death? Was the tea poisoned? But the thought vanished in an instant; she figured it wouldn't be like that. She calmed herself and thanked him for his kindness.

Prince Zhongyi glanced at Bao Yan, who understood and immediately bowed and retreated to the door, guarding the entrance.

The room was suddenly left with only Prince Zhongyi and Jiang Nian sitting opposite each other.

Prince Zhongyi took a sip of tea and, seeing that Jiang Nian was still holding her teacup without moving, smiled and said, "Why aren't you drinking? This is the finest tea, His Majesty bestowed it upon me a few days ago."

Jiang Nian hurriedly lifted the lid of the cup, and took two sips as instructed. It was indeed pure, sweet and fragrant, and extraordinary.

Prince Zhongyi put down his teacup and carefully examined Jiang Nian's face. Seeing that Jiang Nian was still bright and clear-headed despite being restrained for two days, he couldn't help but show some appreciation.

He paused slightly before speaking slowly, his voice low but clear, each word reaching Jiang Nian's ears: "I've come today for no other reason than that the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor have jointly decided to have you recognized as a member of the imperial clan and officially included in the imperial genealogy. As the newly appointed head of the Imperial Clan Court, it is my duty to ask you a few questions in person to verify that you are indeed of the Emperor's bloodline. This is a matter of great importance to the imperial family and cannot be taken lightly. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian, though she had already guessed, still felt as if she were in a dream when it truly came from Prince Zhongyi's mouth! Her heart was instantly filled with overwhelming joy, almost bursting forth—she had finally waited for this moment!
He remained composed, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and immediately rose from his seat, bowing respectfully. His voice remained steady as ever: "This humble servant understands. I am grateful for Your Highness's inquiry, and I will answer any questions truthfully."

……

……

During the Daqing Dynasty, the identification of princes was a matter for the emperor's family and was decided directly by the emperor. This time, with the wise judgment of both the retired Emperor Jingning and the current Emperor Taishun, the matter of Jiang Nian recognizing his ancestors and returning to his clan was decided. With the endorsement of two emperors, the decision was as firm as a rock and there was no doubt about it.

Therefore, there is no need for a court debate.

If this were to be discussed in court, it would easily cause disputes, prompting princes and ministers to make unwarranted comments about the royal bloodline, and even damage the emperor's authority. What kind of decorum would that be?

Therefore, Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun, with their unique wisdom, directly issued an edict to the Imperial Clan Court, ordering the swift handling of Jiang Nian's return to the clan.

At this time, Emperor Jingning appointed Prince Zhongyi to take over the post of Imperial Clan Director of the Imperial Clan Court.

With this arrangement, Jiang Nianzhi's return to his roots was as natural as a river flowing eastward.

Prince Zhongyi was ordered to conduct a review, which, though called an inspection, was in reality just a formality.

On the afternoon of May 12th, Prince Zhongyi met with Jiang Nian at Changchun Garden and asked her some questions in a gentle manner. After returning to the city that day, he sent someone to summon He Yun and his wife, Madam Meng, and asked them some questions as well.

This is all just a formality!
Emperor Taishun already knew Jiang Nianzhi's background clearly, and the evidence was irrefutable, so there was no need for further proof.

The following day, May 13th, the sun blazed overhead.

Prince Zhongyi, following the imperial decree, submitted a memorial earnestly stating that Jiang Nian was indeed of noble birth, with no doubt about her lineage. He humbly requested permission to include her in the imperial genealogy.

Upon reading the memorial, Emperor Taishun immediately issued an imperial edict: "Jiang Nian is indeed of my blood, as now clearly proven. He is hereby granted the name Yuan Yi, his name is added to the imperial genealogy, and he is conferred the title of Duke. So be it!"
Duke of the County was the initial title bestowed upon Jiang Nian after he returned to his clan, a title agreed upon by Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun.

The titles of the imperial family members in Daqing followed the Ming system but with slight modifications. Below the title of Prince, two more titles were added: Duke and Duke of the First Rank.

The title "Qin Gong" is equivalent to the title of Beile in the Qing Dynasty in Jiang Nian's previous life, while "Jun Gong" is equivalent to "Beizi".

Jiang Niangang had just returned to his clan and was only seventeen years old when he was granted the title of Duke of the County, which was already considered a pretty good starting point.

(End of this chapter)