The Red Mansion

Chapter 265 Grandmother Jia pleads for mercy, Yuan Yi admonishes her.

Madam Xing left Rongqing Hall in a daze, her mind elsewhere, and returned to the east wing.

As she arrived outside the black-lacquered gate, she heard a cacophony of construction noise coming from the west side of the neighboring Duke's mansion. The sounds of axes, chisels, and tamping earth mingled together, creating a cacophony that was quite loud and jarring. It was the noise of the reconstruction of the drill ground.

The noise made her already chaotic mind even more irritable, and she couldn't help but curse inwardly: "What's with the showing off! It's just a petty person who's gotten his way, making such a fuss and disturbing the peace of the neighbors!"

With a gloomy face, she stepped through the black-lacquered gate and the ceremonial gate, where she saw Jia Cong standing timidly in a corner, wearing a simple old dress, looking nervous, and staring at her with wide eyes.

Jia Cong did not bow to Madam Xing, but his wet nurse, Granny Cheng, hurriedly stepped forward, bowed deeply to Madam Xing, and respectfully said, "Greetings to Madam."

On one occasion, Madam Xing wanted to send Granny Cheng away, but unexpectedly, Jia Cong, who was usually as afraid of his father Jia She as a mouse was afraid of a cat, suddenly found the courage to cry and beg Jia She to let Granny Cheng stay. From then on, Madam Xing hated Jia Cong and Granny Cheng even more.

At this moment, Madam Xing was filled with fear and resentment, with nowhere to vent her anger. When she saw Jia Cong's appearance, she immediately flew into a rage and sneered at Wang Shanbao's wife, who was following closely behind her, "Look at this little brat! He has no respect for his elders anymore. He acts as if he doesn't see me when he sees me, and he doesn't even know how to show courtesy! It's clear that he hasn't been disciplined enough! Go and give him a slap for me, so he'll remember this lesson!"

Although Madam Xing often scolded Jia Cong, she would never easily order a servant to slap him. After all, no matter how despicable Jia Cong was, he was still Jia She's son, a legitimate young master of the Rongguo Mansion. But at this moment, she felt lost and terrified, completely disoriented.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shanbao's wife actually rolled up her sleeves and approached Jia Cong with a sinister grin. Seeing this, Jia Cong quickly turned and ran away, then stopped and glared at Wang Shanbao's wife.

Seeing this, Madam Xing became even angrier and cursed, "Rebellion! Rebellion! This little brat has truly rebelled!"

With nowhere to vent her anger, she turned her rage on Granny Cheng, pointing at her and saying, "It's all your fault, you wet nurse! You haven't taught her a single rule! Wang Shanbao's wife, slap her first!"

Wang Shanbao's wife, following orders, moved closer to Granny Cheng. Just then, Jia Cong suddenly rushed over and rammed into Wang Shanbao's wife's lower back! Caught off guard, Wang Shanbao's wife cried out in pain and staggered several steps before falling to the ground.

Taking advantage of the situation, Jia Cong grabbed the terrified Granny Cheng and hid back in his small room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Wang Shanbao's wife sat on the ground, rubbing her sore body, and cried to Madam Xing with a mournful face: "Madam! Look! This Cong-ge'er is actually pushing and shoving his servant!"

Madam Xing was trembling with rage, but she didn't have the energy to bang on the door and cause trouble. She just said fiercely to Wang Shanbao's wife, "You stay here and guard them! I don't believe they can die inside and never come out! When they come out, you give each of them a good slap across the face! Do you hear me?"

After saying that, she stamped her foot angrily and walked towards the inner courtyard, filled with resentment.

As soon as she returned to the inner quarters, she was surrounded by a group of concubines and maids dressed in fine silks and adorned with gold, silver, and jewels. These concubines and maids were all startled and eagerly asked, "..."

"Madam! What exactly did the old lady say?"

"Is there any way to get the master out?"

"What can be done now that the master is in jail?"

"..."

The warbling of orioles and the chirping of swallows are usually pleasant to the ear, but to Madam Xing at this moment, they sounded like a thousand sparrows chattering in her ear. Unable to contain herself, she abruptly slammed a teacup to the ground with a loud "crack," accompanied by her stern rebuke: "Shut up, all of you! What are you wailing about! What kind of behavior is this, blocking the way like this? Get back to your rooms!"

Seeing that she was truly enraged, her face ashen and her eyes terrifying, the crowd grew increasingly uneasy, but dared not linger any longer. They could only disperse reluctantly, leaving behind a mess and a room filled with oppressive tension.

The maids cleaned up the mess, and then one of them asked timidly, "Madam...would you like some dinner?"

Madam Xing had completely lost her appetite. She said irritably, "I'm not eating! All of you, get out of here and let me have some peace and quiet!"

The maids dared not say a word and quickly retreated.

Only Madam Xing remained in the room, feeling terrified and restless. The thought of Jia She's imprisonment, the loss of his hereditary title, and her own jeopardy of her future filled her with anxiety and fear.

Just as she was suffering, Wang Shanbao's wife came in and reported, "Madam, your brother from your maternal family has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xing's brows immediately furrowed.

She had a younger brother named Xing Dequan, who was a good-for-nothing. He spent his days drinking, gambling, and frequenting brothels. He was a spendthrift and a heavy drinker. He treated everyone well, regardless of their social status, as long as they drank with him. He would not be close to those who did not drink. Therefore, he was nicknamed "Silly Uncle".

Madam Xing had always disliked her younger brother, and besides, she was currently overwhelmed with troubles, so she immediately said irritably, "What is he doing here? Is he trying to make things worse!"

Wang Shanbao's wife said, "He said it was something important and he needed to discuss it with his wife in person."

Madam Xing snorted coldly: "What important matter could he possibly have to do!"

Even so, a slight thought stirred within her. In this moment of utter isolation and helplessness, the sudden appearance of a blood relative, even if useless, was like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline. After a moment's hesitation, she rose, straightened her clothes, and left the inner quarters.

She arrived at a small guest room outside the second gate, and soon Wang Shanbao's wife led Xing Dequan in.

Xing Dequan, dressed in a worn satin robe, was more than ten years younger than Madam Xing. Today, her eyes seemed clearer than usual. Upon seeing Madam Xing, she disregarded formalities, exclaiming, "Elder sister! I heard your husband has had a terrible accident!" Madam Xing, already troubled, was even more furious at Xing Dequan's shouting. She scolded, "What are you yelling about! Are you afraid others won't know? Can't you speak properly?"

Xing Dequan shrank back, but asked anxiously, "My dear sister! Don't be angry! Let me ask you, have your belongings been confiscated by the authorities yet?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xing glared at him warily: "Why are you asking about this? Is this something you should be asking?"

Xing Dequan said anxiously, "Why can't I ask? Has elder sister forgotten? When you got married and became my brother-in-law's second wife, you brought our entire Xing family's vast fortune as your dowry to this mansion! Now, rumors are circulating that my brother-in-law has committed such a terrible crime. Although this mansion is of noble birth, and the old lady, the Duchess, is still alive, she won't sell the women into official positions, but most of the family's wealth will likely be confiscated! When the officials come, won't they confiscate all of our Xing family's wealth as well? That would be like throwing meat buns to a dog—gone and never to return!"

These words really hit Madam Xing where it hurt!
Madam Xing was by nature greedy and stingy, and she regarded money as her life. Upon hearing that even her dowry and private savings were about to be lost, she panicked and lost her composure. Back then, relying on the Xing family's remaining influence, she had indeed taken most of the family's wealth as her dowry when she married. However, the remaining money of the Xing family had now been squandered by her "foolish uncle," and was almost entirely gone.

Seeing Madam Xing's expression change drastically, Xing Dequan quickly pressed his advantage, saying, "Good sister! Please have mercy and return our Xing family's valuables to me temporarily. I will immediately take them back to the Xing family to store them, so that they don't fall into the hands of those officials who are confiscating our property! This is the way to protect them!"

Upon hearing that she was to hand over her personal savings, Madam Xing flew into a rage, pointing at Xing Dequan and yelling, "You heartless wretch! So today you're like a weasel paying respects to a chicken—you've got ulterior motives! You've even schemed to take my personal savings! Get out of here!"

Xing Dequan also got anxious, sticking out his neck and saying, "That was originally the Xing family's property! Do you really think you'd rather watch my Xing family's property be confiscated by the government than return it to its rightful owner? Give it back to me for now, but if you're ever short of money in the future, do you think I'd dare not let you use it?"

Madam Xing refused to listen. She cursed and pushed Xing Dequan out.

After the "foolish uncle" left in a huff, Madam Xing returned to her room. Facing the room full of chests and cabinets, her anger was gradually replaced by a great fear.

She pondered Xing Dequan's words repeatedly. Although they were unpleasant to hear, they hit the nail on the head: this time, they might really confiscate all their property! Did she have to watch helplessly as all the money she had painstakingly accumulated, even the savings she had brought from her own family, and her husband's dazzling array of valuables were confiscated?
If that's true, it would hurt even more than cutting off her own flesh!

Her greed overwhelmed everything. A thought began to frantically grow in her mind: She couldn't just sit and wait to die! She absolutely couldn't let her family's wealth be lost in vain!
Her usually dull mind became unusually sharp at this moment in order to protect her money.

She not only wanted to hide all her private savings, but she also wouldn't let go of Jia She's wealth...

……

……

That day, Grandmother Jia was filled with worry and had no appetite for dinner.

She sat alone in the warm pavilion, pondering repeatedly. Although Madam Xing was foolish, her words, "personally pleading with Yuan Yi," were like a sharp thorn stuck in her heart, impossible to remove.

She thought to herself that she was, after all, the Duchess of a high rank, an old lady who had received an imperial decree, and the grandmother of Yuan Chun. Even Yuan Yi had to show her respect in the past. Although the situation was very different now, if she were willing to swallow her pride and personally apologize to Yuan Yi, humbly begging for a favor, perhaps she could truly move him and preserve the Rongguo Mansion's title! For the sake of the hereditary title passed down through generations, and so as not to feel too ashamed before her husband Jia Daishan, what did it matter if she, an old woman, abandoned her dignity?
Thinking it over, I made up my mind and decided to go with it!

She deliberately waited until nightfall, then summoned Jia Lian and whispered, "Go next door...find your younger sister, and just tell her...that this old woman wants to visit the Duke tonight, and has a few important things to say."

So Jia Lian went to the neighboring Duke's mansion to see Yuan Chun.

Yuan Yi was in the "Lishenzhai" studio, quietly copying Buddhist scriptures under the lamp. Yuan Chun entered quietly, looking somewhat embarrassed, and tactfully conveyed Grandmother Jia's intention. Upon hearing this, Yuan Yi pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "In that case, let her come over for a meeting."

Like a thief, Grandmother Jia slipped out of the Rongguo Mansion through a side gate in the dark of night, riding only a small sedan chair, and entered the imposing Duke's Mansion next door.

Inside the "Lishenzhai" hall, the lights and candles were bright. Yuan Yi sat in the main seat, while Yuan Chun sat to the side.

Upon seeing Grandmother Jia enter, Yuan-chun quickly rose and stepped forward, still showing utmost respect.

At this moment, however, Grandmother Jia lacked her usual dignified presence. She sat down shakily and looked at Yuan Yi, saying respectfully, "Your Excellency, I have come here today with great humility because of those matters... It was my foolishness, and also the improper conduct of my eldest son and his wife, who have offended you in many ways. I apologize to you!" After saying this, she stood up and bowed.

Yuan Yi merely raised his hand in a gesture of nonchalance, his expression indifferent, and said, "There's no need for that. You came here at night, surely not just to apologize. What is it? Please speak frankly."

Grandmother Jia's face flushed slightly, her embarrassment growing as he exposed her mistake. She could only steel herself and say, "Your Excellency, I do have a request. I know my eldest son has committed a serious offense, one that has alarmed His Majesty. It's impossible to exonerate him, and restoring his hereditary title is equally difficult. I dare not even entertain such a wish. I only beg Your Excellency to consider our past relationship and our kinship through marriage, and perhaps put in a good word for us before His Majesty. I ask for nothing more than to preserve our family's hereditary title, to be inherited by my second son, or perhaps even by Lian-ge'er, so that our ancestral line may continue. If this were the case, I could die in peace."

When Yuan Chun saw Grandmother Jia being so humble, she felt a pang of sorrow in her heart and almost burst into tears. She had never seen the old lady like this before.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yi's heart stirred. He thought to himself: This old lady, usually so muddle-headed, is showing some shrewdness now for the sake of the title. Knowing that Jia She would have a hard time regaining his title, she actually came up with a way to let Jia Zheng or Jia Lian inherit it.

His expression suddenly turned serious, and his voice was cold and stern: "Now that you're here, I have no choice but to say a few words. The Rongguo Mansion has fallen to its current state; do you bear no responsibility? Your lax management of the household and your indulgence of everyone have led to this disaster! Jia She has only himself to blame; the law of the land is as solid as a mountain, how can it tolerate favoritism? Besides—"

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Yuan Chun, his tone becoming even more somber: "Yuan Chun has not yet been formally conferred the title of Lady of the County. At this moment, such a scandal has occurred in your household, alarming the court and the public. If I were to rashly plead for her, and the Emperor were to blame me, wouldn't that implicate Yuan Chun's conferment of the title? Have you considered the implications of this?"

Grandmother Jia abruptly looked up at Yuan Chun, her eyes filled with alarm and guilt. Yes, if Yuan Chun's formal investiture were delayed because of her family's affairs, the disaster would be far greater!

Yuan Yi continued to admonish Grandmother Jia: "In my opinion, you no longer need to harbor any delusions about Jia She. The most important thing now is for your household to be careful in your words and deeds from now on. As long as your household can manage properly and live a peaceful life, Yuan Chun will naturally not ignore her family."

Having said all that, how could Grandmother Jia possibly continue to plead for her? She sat there awkwardly for a while, then took her leave, looking dejected.

(End of this chapter)