The Red Mansion

Chapter 253 The Prince's Wife, Rules and Family Laws

Filial piety is important, and Emperor Taishun often stated that he "ruled the world with filial piety".

However, Emperor Taishun did not allow the newly returned prince Yuan Yi to personally go to Jiangning to handle the relocation of Jiang Xuelian's remains.

Upon closer examination, a deeper meaning is revealed.

Firstly, as a newly reinstated prince, Yuan Yi's position is delicate and his foundation is not yet stable. His sudden return to the imperial family has undoubtedly offended many and blocked the path of others. Currently, the capital is rife with intrigue, and he must remain there. If he were to leave the capital for several months due to the relocation of his birth mother's remains, it would be detrimental to him.

Secondly, the fact that the prince had fallen into the common people's hands was a secret of the Taishun Dynasty. If Yuan Yi were to make a big show of going to Jiangning to relocate his birth mother's grave, it would be tantamount to announcing to the world: "Look, I am the prince from the common people, and I am going to relocate my birth mother's grave!" This would cause discussion in the court and among the people, and would only damage the face of the imperial family.

Thirdly, since Yuan Yi has been granted the prestigious position of a prince, he is bound to attract jealousy and resentment. At this time, if he were to travel to Jiangning to relocate the remains, it would be a long and arduous journey, and there might be someone plotting against him along the way. Moreover, Emperor Taishun has recently experienced the pain of Yuan Li's assassination and now has few heirs. He also greatly admires Yuan Yi, so how could he allow Yuan Yi to venture into such a dangerous place?

Fourthly, the relocation of Jiang Xuelian's remains was an act of grace and decree by Emperor Taishun, not a matter concerning Yuan Yi personally. Imperial grace is greater than familial grace; the entire process was a manifestation of the emperor's boundless benevolence from top to bottom, not a prince's act of filial piety from bottom to top. Therefore, those who carried out this task were likely officials acting on imperial orders, not Prince Yuan Yi himself.

Fifthly: Since Yuan Yi is already a prince, it is inappropriate for him to personally carry out a specific and laborious engineering project. His role is to "respectfully receive the emperor's grace" and "be grateful," not to personally handle it.

Sixthly: The imperial court had its own regulations and systems for relocating Jiang Xuelian's remains, and all matters were handled by the Imperial Household Department, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Rites, and local officials according to precedent. Emperor Taishun's special decree appointing He Yun to oversee the matter and coordinate the various departments was already exceptionally thorough.

Although Yuan Yi did not personally go to Jiangning to relocate the remains, he was not entirely uninvolved.

He might escort the coffin. When Jiang Xuelian's coffin arrives near the capital or the imperial concubine's mausoleum after its arduous journey, Emperor Taishun might allow him to go and receive it.

He might preside over the burial ceremony. At the burial ceremony held in the imperial mausoleum, he might appear as the chief officiant, burning incense and offering libations, performing the proper rituals. This would both fulfill his filial duty and maintain the dignity of the imperial family.

Then there are the sacrificial rites. It is through these rites that Prince Yuan Yi has consistently shown his filial piety to his birth mother.

……

……

Although Yuan Yi was thrilled to be a prince who had returned to the royal family today and was now adorned with honor, he was also exhausted and felt somewhat weary.

He has always had the habit of taking a half-hour nap at noon, and in the scorching heat of May, taking a half-hour nap in the cool bedroom is truly a pleasant way to cool off and refresh himself.

He did not take a nap in the main courtyard of his residence in Ningguo Mansion today. In fact, he had never slept peacefully in that magnificent main hall before. He had only moved into Ningguo Mansion three days ago, and on the same day, Yuan Shi came to provoke him, after which he was detained in Changchun Garden and only returned today.

During his afternoon nap, he went to the courtyard where Yuan Chun lived, which was located to the east of the main hall courtyard.

Back when the family lived in the Jiang residence in the eastern suburbs, due to limited space, Yuan Chun always shared a bedroom with him. Now that they have moved into the magnificent Ningguo Mansion, things are different. Yuan Chun has her own separate courtyard, spacious and exquisite, with lush flowers and trees, and decorated in an elegant and warm style, revealing the mistress's ingenuity.

Yuan Chun personally led Yuan Yi into her bedroom.

The room was spotless, with bright windows and clean furniture. The curtains were drawn low, blocking out the scorching sunlight outside and letting in only soft light. The air was filled with Yuan Chun's usual sweet and delicate fragrance, which calmed Yuan Yi's mind.

Yuan Chun helped him take off his outer robe, leaving him in only his inner garment, and settled him on a cool bed covered with a jade-colored mat. She then carefully tucked the corners of his gauze quilt in before quietly leaving with Baoqin, leaving Xiangling to serve him in the room.

Inside the embroidered tent, Yuan Yi had already fallen asleep, his breathing even.

Xiangling leaned to one side, sitting on an embroidered stool beside the bed, holding a round fan in her hand, gently and rhythmically fanning Yuan Yi, sending him a cool breeze.

She gazed at the sleeping man in the tent. His familiar face now appeared even more peaceful in his sleep, but his noble status was completely different from what it had been three days ago.

She was so engrossed in watching that her mind wandered, and even now she still feels as if she's in a dream.

"Master... how did you suddenly become a prince?"

This thought lingered in her mind.

She was not the kind of woman who loved vanity, but when she learned that her master was actually a prince and a grandson of a dragon, and that his status would be extremely high, she was genuinely happy and fortunate for him. However, her admiration for him also grew stronger and stronger.

Women in the world, more or less, harbor a desire to admire the strong. Even someone as gentle and kind-hearted as Xiangling is not entirely immune to this.

Seeing the person he once loved leap to the heavens, his feelings rose like a rising tide, becoming uncontrollable.

She carefully fanned herself, her movements gentle, as if afraid of disturbing the prince's sweet dreams, her gaze lingering on his peaceful sleeping face.

Suddenly, a long-held thought surfaced: "Master... I wonder when... when will you take me into your room?"

This idea didn't just come to mind today.

Because she was a senior maid who had served the master for a long time, she was beautiful, gentle, and literate. Everyone in the family believed that she would most likely become the master's concubine in the future, and even the mistress, Yuan Chun, had tacitly agreed to this.

She herself had long harbored this intention, but had always kept it hidden in her heart.

At this moment, this thought arises more strongly than ever before, filled with eager anticipation.

She thought that if she could stay by the side of this noble and unparalleled prince as a concubine, it would be a great blessing... Inside the tent, Yuan Yi turned over, seemingly fast asleep.

Unaware that he was asleep, Xiangling, who was watching over him, was experiencing such tender, girlish thoughts. But he knew that, according to the original story, Xiangling was already Xue Pan's concubine at this moment.

Xiangling composed herself and continued to gently fan herself, keeping her girlish thoughts hidden in her heart, transforming them into silent protection and anticipation within the curtains.

The intermittent chirping of cicadas outside the window only accentuated the tranquility inside the room.

Summer afternoons are long, but the trajectories of certain destinies have already quietly shifted.

……

……

Although Yuan Chun had her own courtyard in Ningguo Mansion, according to etiquette and custom, Yuan Yi still allocated the east side room of the main hall for her daily use.

Although this east wing of the main hall is called an "ear room", it is spacious and much larger than the east wing of the Jiang residence in the eastern suburbs!
Inside the room, a kang bed stood by the window, equipped with a backrest and pillows. On either side of the kang were a pair of small lacquered tables. On the floor to the west were four nanmu chairs, each with a chair cover, and four footstools placed underneath. On either side of the chairs were a pair of tall tables, complete with teacups, vases, and flowers. The rest of the furnishings were exquisite and tasteful, clearly the result of careful consideration.

At this moment, Yuan Chun was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), while Meng Shi was sitting diagonally on a chair at the lower end.

Besides the two of them, there was no one else in the room; even the head maid, Baoqin, was dismissed by Yuan Chun and left outside the door.

Yuan Chun smiled and sighed, “Truly, life is unpredictable. I used to think of you two as capable men under the Emperor, but I never imagined that you two were ordered to protect and care for the Emperor and…and the Empress more than ten years ago. I also never imagined that Guard He was already one of the Emperor’s trusted confidants. Now that I think about it, the Thirteenth Prince’s sudden summons of you two yesterday was to verify the Emperor’s imperial bloodline, wasn’t it?”

Madam Meng hurriedly replied respectfully, "Madam, you are wise. It is not that my husband and I intentionally concealed such an important matter from you, but this matter concerns the bloodline of the imperial family and is a top secret. We dare not reveal even a trace of it before the Emperor's will is clear. We hope you will understand."

Yuan Chun smiled gently, her tone becoming even more tender: "What are you saying? How could I not understand? Don't apologize for this. If I were in your position, I would also keep my mouth shut. In fact, I must deeply praise you two for your 'unparalleled loyalty and righteousness'! For the past ten years, you have protected the Empress and the Emperor, and kept this huge secret perfectly. The hardships you have endured are unimaginable. It has truly been difficult for you! I should reward you, but I was in a hurry and didn't prepare anything. I will have someone send it to you later when I have it ready, as a token of my appreciation."

When Madam Meng heard that Yuan Chun not only did not blame her, but was also so understanding and reasonable, and that her words were full of compassion and praise, a warm current surged in her heart. She said, "Madam, you are too kind! It is our duty as husband and wife to protect the Empress and the Master. How dare we accept such praise and reward from you? In the past, the Empress treated us with kindness as heavy as a mountain. Now that you, Madam, are so kind and benevolent, it is our greatest blessing to have met such a wise ruler!"

As she spoke, she sighed inwardly, "Madam is truly virtuous and intelligent! Not only does she understand the intricacies of the matter, but she also shows compassion for her subordinates, not dwelling on past 'concealments,' but instead rewarding them for their merits. Such a mistress is truly a blessing for Master, and a good fortune for all of us!"

Seeing her like this, Yuan Chun felt relieved and gently asked her about some old stories.

In the cool and quiet east wing room, the two drank tea and talked intimately, their relationship becoming even closer than before.

The intense sunlight outside the window was kept out, leaving only a harmonious and warm atmosphere inside.

……

……

After Meng left the east wing of the main hall, Yuan Chun sat for a short while before ordering Bao Qin to summon Xi Ren, Qing Wen, Jin Chuan, and Yu Chuan. These five were all maids serving Yuan Chun. Seeing that Yuan Chun's expression was solemn and different from usual, they all held their breath and stood at attention with their hands at their sides.

Yuan Chun's gaze slowly swept over the five people, finally landing on Qing Wen. Her voice, though not loud, carried an undeniable determination: "Qing Wen, I have made up my mind to kick out your cousin Wu Gui and his wife!"

Upon hearing this, Qingwen felt as if she had been struck on the head, and her pretty face instantly turned pale. She instinctively wanted to plead for mercy, but her knees buckled and she knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Grandma... Madam... I beg you, Madam, have mercy! No matter how many faults they have, they are still my flesh and blood relatives. I beg you, Madam, to forgive them this time, considering that I have been quite devoted to them..." Although the words left her mouth, she was already seven or eight parts weak in her heart.

Yuan Chun's face remained ashen, unmoved by Qing Wen's kneeling pleas. She said coldly, "You don't need to plead for them anymore. Everyone in the manor knows how despicable the Wu couple are. I have tolerated them time and time again! Now they are becoming even more ungrateful, betraying their master and kicking him when he's down. This is truly intolerable!"

When Qingwen heard the words "betraying one's master and forgetting gratitude, kicking someone when they're down," her heart skipped a beat. She remembered that yesterday, her brother and sister-in-law had taken advantage of the fact that their master was imprisoned and the household was in a state of panic to come and ask Yuanchun to release them from their slave status, which was a great taboo.

Her fiery temper was completely at a loss at this moment, partly because she already held Yuan Chun in awe, and partly because Yuan Chun was now the extremely noble princess. She also knew that her brother and sister-in-law's actions were really too much, so she could only lower her head and stop pleading.

Seeing her like this, Yuan Chun softened her tone slightly, but still maintained the dignity of a mistress: "As for you, I know you are not a bad person by nature, just a bit impatient. Considering your loyalty to me, and our past relationship as mistress and servant, I will not hold a grudge against you. You can stay by my side and serve well. If you are conscientious in your duties, I will certainly not mistreat you."

As early as mid-spring last year, less than ten days after Jiang Nian and Yuan Chun's wedding, Wu Gui was ordered by Yuan Chun to move out to rent a house because of his drunkenness and inappropriate speech.

From then on, Wu Gui and his wife, Duo Guniang, could only receive a little over one tael of silver a month from the Jiang family. Their rewards, in-kind benefits, and hidden income were all cut off, and they even had to pay their own rent. If the two of them were obedient and frugal, they could make a living. If they performed well, Yuan Chun might be so kind as to allow them to return to work.

Unfortunately, over the past year, Wu Gui had become addicted to alcohol, while Duo Guniang, being somewhat beautiful but frivolous by nature and short of money, had been philandering everywhere. Yuan Chun had long intended to get rid of Wu Gui and his wife, but she had repeatedly tolerated it because they were her personal maids and because she also thought of Qingwen.

Until yesterday, when the couple saw that Jiang Nian had offended the Third Prince and been detained, they couldn't wait to come and cause trouble for Yuan Chun. They not only wanted to release themselves from their slave status, but also wanted to release Qingwen's slave status as well, insisting on taking Qingwen out with them. Because they couldn't return to their posts, they were afraid of being implicated. Seeing that Qingwen was getting older and becoming more and more beautiful, they wanted to take this beautiful young woman out and sell her for a good price to fill their bottomless pit.

Yuan Chun immediately refused, and Qing Wen cried out that she would rather die than leave this door, which made Yuan Chun feel gratified.

Now that the storm has passed, and her husband is a prince, Yuan Chun knows that rules and family laws must be strictly enforced, and servants must be disciplined even more rigorously. Keeping the Wu couple around is not only useless, but also a disaster, and they cannot be tolerated any longer.

Today, Yuan Chun made this public statement in front of Baoqin, Xiren, Jinchuan, and Yuchuan. This was also a warning to the servants around her: Now that the mansion is very wealthy, the rules and family laws will only become stricter. If there are any disloyal, unworthy, or wicked people, they will not be let off lightly!

At this moment, Baoqin, Xiren, Jinchuan, and Yuchuan all felt a sense of awe and reverence.

They knew that once Wu Gui and his wife were expelled, they would never receive a single penny from this household again, and they would bear the stigma of being expelled. Moreover, their status as slaves remained in this household, making it difficult for them to find another way out.

(End of this chapter)