The Red Mansion

Chapter 264 The East Prefecture is Brilliant, the West Prefecture is Desolate

Yuan Yi saw and understood Yuan Chun's barely concealed anxiety and deep concern for her family.

Yuan Chun is virtuous, filial, upright, and talented. The Rongguo Mansion is her maternal family, the family that gave her birth and raised her, and a family with a glorious history of merit for a hundred years. Now, she has suddenly been stripped of the hereditary title passed down from the first Duke of Rongguo, Jia Yuan. If she can remain indifferent to such a catastrophic disaster, she would seem cold-blooded.

Although Yuan Yi himself was ruthless and decisive in his political maneuvering, he genuinely loved Yuan Chun's character and did not want his wife to become as cruel as him.

However, understanding and liking are one thing, but they will not shake Yuan Yi's determination to handle Jia She's case, nor will they make him lend a hand to reduce Jia She's punishment or preserve the Rongguo Mansion's hereditary title.

Seeing that her husband's attitude was firm and he had no intention of changing his mind, Yuan Chun suppressed her bitterness and said in a low voice, "I dare not disturb Fourth Master's peace any longer. I will take my leave for now." After saying that, she turned to leave, her back view showing a bit of desolation.

"Wait a minute," Yuan Yi said.

Upon hearing the sound, Yuan Chun stopped and turned around.

Yuan Yi looked at her and said calmly, "I have made my decision. I will add Zhang Ruojin, the maid you brought, to the register of the troops."

Yuan Chun was slightly taken aback. She then heard Yuan Yi continue, "From now on, Zhang Ruojin will be in charge of the accounting affairs of the outer residences of the mansion."

Back when the family lived in the eastern suburbs, Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun personally managed all the household accounts.

Things are different now. We now live in the Duke's mansion, with a vast estate, numerous servants, and a multitude of internal and external affairs, which is incomparable to the past. Therefore, we need to establish strict rules and appoint specific people to manage them.

Yuan Yi did not appoint a Grand Steward, but instead had Yuan Chun manage the treasury and the accounts of the inner quarters. The choice of someone to manage the accounts of the outer quarters remained undecided. He currently did not have many trusted confidants, only a few such as He Yun, Meng Xiong, and He Zhong, and there was no one suitable to manage the accounts of the outer quarters.

Zhang Ruojin was Baoqin's older brother, a maidservant brought by Yuan Chun from the Rongguo Mansion, and also one of Yuan Chun's confidants. Yuan Yi had been observing Zhang Ruojin for a long time and found that he was of good character, acted prudently, and was especially skilled in managing household affairs and finances.

At this moment, Yuan Yi suddenly proposed to elevate Zhang Ruojin to the rank of a retainer and entrust her with important responsibilities. This was clearly because he saw that Yuan Chun was worried about her family's affairs and wanted to offer her some comfort in this way.
Yuan Chun, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately understood the good intentions behind it. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Master."

Yuan Yi nodded slightly and said no more.

Yuan Chun then slowly withdrew from Li Shen Zhai.

……

……

Less than half an hour after Yuan Chun left "Li Shen Zhai", a eunuch rushed in and reported to Yuan Yi: "Reporting to the Duke, the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites have sent the plaque for your residence."

From the time Emperor Taishun issued the imperial edict declaring Yuan Yi's return to the imperial clan and bestowing upon him the title of Duke, to the formal investiture ceremony, only a few days had passed. The plaque for the "Duke's Mansion" could not be made in time, so to this day, the lintel above the gate of Yuan Yi's magnificent mansion remains empty, with only a few old nail marks from when the plaque "Imperial Construction of Ningguo Mansion" was hung there, which is quite inconsistent with the noble atmosphere of the mansion today.

Today, the plaque for "Duke's Residence" has finally arrived.

Upon hearing the report, Yuan Yi got up and went to the main hall.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Yuan Yi received the plaque and examined it closely. He noticed that the plaque was made of the finest wood, with three gilded characters in the center: "Duke's Mansion." Since Yuan Yi, the Duke, did not have a specific title, he simply used these three characters as his name. Although concise, it exuded an imperial majesty.

Yuan Yi then instructed Zhang Ruojin, who was standing to the side, "Go and check immediately if the plaques for the main hall and the inner study that I asked you to make have been completed. If they are, bring them over. Let's hang them up today and put that matter to rest."

Zhang Ruojin bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left.

Yuan Yi, together with officials from the Ministry of Rites, supervised the carrying of the large plaque bearing the inscription "Duke's Residence" to the outside of the residence. They then set up a ladder and carefully and steadily hung the heavy, golden new plaque above the high lintel of the vermilion gate.

Under the sunlight, the three characters "郡公府" (Duke's Mansion) gleamed, complementing the newly polished gilded copper nails on the door, instantly giving it a fresh new look! Since Jia Zhen's conviction and the decline of the Ningguo Mansion, this long-empty gate has finally welcomed its new owner today.

Such a commotion naturally attracted the attention of the servants from the Rongguo Mansion next door, who whispered among themselves and sighed with admiration.

"Look, just now our master in the West Mansion was stripped of his hereditary title and taken away, and in the blink of an eye, this golden plaque with the words 'Duke's Mansion' is hanging in the East Mansion!"

"The world is constantly changing; who can predict what will happen next?"

Just then, Jia Lian returned from outside, looking utterly dejected.

He had just been running around trying to find out about his father and learned that Jia She had been personally escorted into the Ministry of Justice prison by Lu Keduo, the military governor of the capital garrison. The situation was extremely bad. He was terrified and at a loss when he suddenly saw the brand-new "Duke's Mansion" plaque hanging high in front of Yuan Yi's mansion.

He then recalled the current state of his own household, shrouded in gloom and despair, the stripping of his hereditary title, and his father's imprisonment… The contrast between the two was like heaven and earth! A surge of indescribable bitterness and lament welled up in his heart: this once quiet and dilapidated East Mansion had suddenly become a prince's residence and a duke's residence, enjoying such prestige and glory; while his own West Mansion had fallen into the abyss in an instant, even losing its hereditary title! Truly, fate is cruel, and honor and disgrace are unpredictable!
He dared not look any longer, and hurriedly lowered his head to slip away towards the Rongguo Mansion in the west, his back view disheveled.

……

……

The large golden plaque bearing the inscription "Duke's Mansion" had just been securely hung above the main gate when Yuan Yi saw Zhang Ruojin leading several craftsmen back, carrying two newly made plaques. These were the plaques for the main hall, "Debentang," and the inner study, which Yuan Yi had personally inscribed and Zhang Ruojin had supervised the construction of.

Yuan Yi then moved inside the mansion and personally watched as the master of ceremonies erected a ladder and hung the plaque "Debentang" (Hall of Virtue) upright in the main hall. He then went to the inner study and hung the plaque "Lishenzhai" (Studio of Standing Firm) inside. Thus, plaques were hung in two important locations throughout the mansion.

After hanging the three plaques, Yuan Yi went to the west side of the mansion. There used to be a main gate leading directly to Huifang Garden, and inside the gate was an open space. Now it was a noisy construction site, with craftsmen coming and going, and construction going on. The sounds of axes, chisels, and tamping earth were mixed together, creating a lot of noise. Yuan Yi had ordered that this open space be renovated to build a drill ground within the mansion.

When he lived in the eastern suburbs, he specially purchased land and built his own training ground to practice riding and archery, without interruption in the heat of summer or cold winter. This hard work did not go to waste. When he was chasing the assassin leader Xiao Zhong in Jiangning, his superb riding and archery skills played a crucial role, ultimately enabling him to defeat the enemy.

Now that they have moved to the Xicheng County Duke's Mansion, it is far from the East Suburbs Training Ground, making travel inconvenient. Fortunately, the Duke's Mansion occupies a large area, and the open space inside the main gate of Huifang Garden is suitable for conversion into a training ground. Once completed, it will not only be extremely convenient for Yuan Yi to practice riding and archery, but also for the guards, soldiers, and household servants of the mansion to train.

At this moment, Yuan Yi stood with his hands behind his back beside the construction site, inspecting the progress of the project. His gaze was calm, and he was already planning how to hone his skills and train his men here in the future.

This mansion of the Duke of the County will not only be his place of residence, but also the foundation for him to practice martial arts and literature and cultivate his power.

……

……

Inside the Rongguo Mansion, in the Rongqing Hall, a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere hung heavy, making it almost impossible to breathe.

Grandmother Jia lay slumped on the central couch, her face ashen, as if she had aged several years in a single day. Her eyelids drooped, and the spirit she once had when she was enjoying herself was nowhere to be seen.

Although she usually disliked her eldest son Jia She's outrageous behavior, Jia She was still her own flesh and blood. Today, Jia She was stripped of his title and arrested by Emperor Taishun. How could she not be shocked and saddened?

Moreover, the hereditary title passed down through generations of the Rongguo Duke Jia Yuan had been lost! Her husband, Jia Daishan, had inherited the family business, achieved great merit, and been promoted to the second Rongguo Duke, bringing glory to the family. When the title passed to Jia She, he initially inherited the title of Marquis, but was later demoted to First-Class General due to his involvement in the deposition of the Crown Prince. However, the title remained, preserving the family's foundation. Now, unexpectedly, the title had been stripped away! The century-old family had suddenly lost its pillar! She felt deeply ashamed before her husband, who had been dead for many years.

Thinking of this, I feel my heart is breaking and I am filled with shame and remorse.

Madam Xing was so frightened that she was out of her wits. She sat at the lower end of the table, her face deathly pale.

Jia Lian sat there dejectedly, his face ashen.

Just as the hall was deathly silent, filled with sorrow, Lin Zhixiao's wife hurried in and whispered, "Grandma, the Second Master has returned."

Soon, Jia Zheng, travel-worn and with a solemn expression, hurried into the hall. Although he was extremely worried, he still observed proper etiquette, first bowing to Grandmother Jia: "Your son greets you, Old Madam."

Grandmother Jia weakly raised her hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

After Jia Zheng sat down, Grandmother Jia said to Jia Lian, "Lian'er, tell your second uncle in detail about your father's affairs."

Jia Lian had no choice but to bite the bullet and explain the situation in detail.

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's face turned extremely pale, and he lamented, "Brother... how could you be so foolish!"

Grandmother Jia sighed deeply, her cloudy old eyes looking at Jia Zheng with hope as she asked, "Things have come to this, do you... do you have any other ideas? You must find a way, we can't just let our family's hereditary title be lost like this!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng frowned deeply, shook his head repeatedly, and said with a bitter smile, "Grandmother, my brother has caused a death this time, and has even alarmed His Majesty, who personally issued an edict to strip him of his title and arrest him. The case is serious, and the evidence is conclusive. This... this time, restoring his hereditary title is probably as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

Grandmother Jia, however, was not giving up. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Our family and the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion have been friends for generations. I was thinking... could we ask the Prince of Bei Jing to help us in this matter? Perhaps he could intercede with the Emperor or the Three Judicial Offices?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng looked troubled and said awkwardly, "Grandma, how can we bring this up? Although the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion is close to our family, how can we ask for help in such a serious case involving a life and a decision already made by the Emperor? If we openly ask for a favor, wouldn't that put the Prince in a difficult position? Moreover, I'm afraid the Prince might not be able to get involved in such an imperial case. If we run into a brick wall, it would be even worse, and our past relationship would fade."

Hearing Jia Zheng's reasonable analysis, Grandmother Jia became even more dejected and slumped on the couch. Thinking of what the retired Emperor Jingning had said to her earlier, "Jia Daishan's favor has been exhausted today," she sighed inwardly, "What a pity. If the retired Emperor were still protecting us, would my Rong Mansion have lost its hereditary title this time?"

A suffocating silence fell over the hall.

Just when everyone in the room was at a loss and a gloomy atmosphere hung in the air, Madam Xing, filled with fear and anxiety, blurted out to Grandmother Jia, "Grandmother! In this situation, looking around, I'm afraid only the Duke next door... the one next door, can speak to the Emperor and help us out!"

As soon as she said this, she felt embarrassed. However, when she thought about how Jia She had stripped her of her hereditary title, and her title as a Lady of the Imperial Decree would also vanish, and if Jia She were to be convicted of a serious crime, her life as a second wife would truly be bleak! In her panic, she no longer cared about saving face.

Grandmother Jia glared at Madam Xing, her voice filled with anger: "You still have the nerve to ask the neighbors for help? Have you forgotten all the things you've done in the past?"

Mrs. Xing was speechless and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Grandmother Jia sighed deeply, her sigh filled with weariness and helplessness. She then looked at Jia Zheng and said, "What she said is not necessarily wrong. If that Duke next door were really willing to step in and mediate, given his current favor with the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus's patronage, there would truly be hope of preserving our family's title. It's just a pity... it's a pity that we have become estranged from them. I just sent someone to secretly plead with Yuan Chun, but that Duke has made up his mind and refuses to lend a hand."

The mere mention of Yuan Yi made both Jia Zheng and Lady Wang uncomfortable. They both involuntarily recalled the reprimands and cold treatment they had received when they visited the neighboring Duke's mansion. Lady Wang felt utterly humiliated at the time, and the memory still lingered.

Grandmother Jia, however, seemed to grasp at the last straw and said to Jia Zheng, "No matter what, you are still his father-in-law and Yuan Chun's biological father. Perhaps... perhaps if you humble yourself and sincerely beg him again, he might change his mind for Yuan Chun's sake."

Jia Zheng seemed startled and truly embarrassed. He waved his hand and said, "Mother, please don't mention it! This... how can this be? Last time I went to see him, he was already in such a state... Now that he is a prince and a duke, his authority is unpredictable. I really have no face to ask him for help again!"

Madam Xing, who was extremely anxious, couldn't help but interject, "Old Madam! If you were to personally go and plead with him, with your dignity, you wouldn't have to worry about him not complying! Would he really refuse to give you that respect?"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia felt as if she had been pricked by a needle, and immediately flew into a rage, shouting at Madam Xing, "Shut up!"

She knew perfectly well that Yuan Yi no longer cared about her dignity; when they met at the street corner last time, he hadn't even greeted her. Moreover, for an old lady of her age to personally go and beg Yuan Yi, a junior with whom she had become estranged, was a huge loss of face for her.

Madam Xing trembled from the reprimand and dared not say another word.

Inside Rongqing Hall, a suffocating silence once again descended...

(End of this chapter)