The Red Mansion

Chapter 268 You Shi Feng Jie, Paying Homage to Yuan Chun

The sun was blazing, and the heat was stifling.

The main gate of the Yuan Yi County Duke's Mansion, shaped like beast heads, was tightly closed, with only the east and west side gates open for people to enter and exit.

At that moment, a young eunuch named Tian Feng strolled out from the East Corner Gate. He had a fair complexion, bright eyes, and wore a eunuch's robe and thin-soled boots.

Tian Feng stood outside the side gate, glancing at the two carriages parked there. His gaze then fell on the two women standing in the scorching sun. They were from Wang'er's family and Yu Lu's family, respectively. Both were dressed as stewards' wives, wearing silk, their temples damp with sweat and their faces shiny with oil from the scorching sun.

Tian Feng asked, "Who is it that has sent a letter requesting an audience with our lady?"

Upon hearing the question, Wang'er's wife and Yu Lu's wife hurriedly stepped forward, curtsied, and explained their purpose.

Tian Feng didn't say much, only nodded: "In that case, you two come with me."

Having said that, he turned and led the way. Wang'er's wife and Yu Lu's wife hurriedly followed.

After entering through the side gate, we were led to a gatehouse. The room was simply furnished with a table and a few chairs. Sitting on one of the chairs was a middle-aged eunuch, who was over forty years old. His face was slightly loose, and there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He was wearing a satin robe and a sash around his waist.

This middle-aged eunuch was named Gu Baoan. He was one of the eight eunuchs in the Duke's mansion. Because of his age and seniority, Yuan Yi put him in charge of guarding the gates and summoning people.

Gu Baoan was holding a small covered clock, slowly blowing on the tea leaves.

Tian Feng stepped aside and whispered, "Master Gu, the person has been brought."

Wang'er's wife and Yu Lu's wife quickly curtsied and said, "Greetings to Master Gu."

Gu Baoan glanced at the two men, asked what their purpose was, and the two men explained themselves.

After listening, Gu Baoan took another sip of tea before gently placing the small teacup on the table. He said slowly and deliberately, "Our lady usually meets either members of the imperial family or noble ladies of dukedom." He drew out his words, lightly pointing to the two visiting cards with his finger. "As for the ranks of your two ladies... hehe! And since there was no prior arrangement or invitation, this sudden meeting... the rules are quite difficult to follow!"

After he finished speaking, the room became very quiet.

Wang'er's family and Yu Lu's family exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly.

Wang'er's wife hurriedly took out a snowflake silver ingot, weighing five taels, and presented it with both hands, gently placing it on the table. She said with a smile, "Master Gu has worked hard. This little bit of tea money is just a token of our appreciation. We hope Master Gu will do us a favor."

Seeing this, Yu Lu's wife also quickly took out a snowflake silver ingot of the same size and put it down as well: "That's right, please accept it, Master Gu."

Gu Baoan glanced at the silver ingots, stretched out his fingers, picked up one ingot, weighed it in his hand, then picked up another ingot, weighed it in his hand as well, and with a smirk, he slammed the silver ingots onto the table.

He said in a pretentious tone, "What can this be? To send away beggars? In this day and age, what isn't expensive? Bribing officials and grease palms, every place costs money. If you two are truly determined to see me, each of you should add fifteen taels, making it twenty taels per person. Then I'll swallow my pride and personally go inside to deliver the invitations and messages to you. Otherwise... whether Madam will be available to see guests today is another matter."

Upon hearing this, the two women were both shocked and cursed the eunuch for his greed. Twenty taels of silver was enough for an ordinary peasant family to live on for a year, yet it was merely a door-to-door gift for sending a visiting card, especially since both of them had indicated that their master was acquainted with the lady of the house.

Because Lady You controlled a large portion of the Jia family's wealth, she specifically gave Yu Lu's wife extra money to carry with her, in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Yu Lu's wife gritted her teeth, but dared not show it on her face. She smiled and said, "Master Gu is right. It was my oversight." As she spoke, she actually took out three more snowflake silver ingots, each weighing five taels, and gently placed them next to the original five-tael silver ingot. "Thank you for your trouble."

Upon seeing this, Gu Baoan smiled, picked up the newly added silver ingot, weighed it in his hand, and nodded: "Hmm, she's quite sensible." His gaze swept over Wang'er's house, filled with scrutiny and impatience, "And yours?"

Wang'er's wife was immediately embarrassed. Although Wang Xifeng had taken a considerable amount of wealth with her after being divorced from the Rongguo Mansion, her spending was no longer what it used to be. The money given to her this time was limited, and the five taels she had just received was already a large portion. She could only rub her hands together awkwardly and say, "Remembering what you said, Master Gu, I'm currently short of funds and can't come up with that much. Please wait a moment, Master Gu, while I go out and inform my mistress..."

Gu Baoan's face immediately darkened. He snorted and pushed aside the twenty taels of silver from Yu Lu's family, coldly saying, "My time is limited. In that case, you'd better hurry back. Just a reminder: if you're late, I'll only send an invitation to this one family. It's the rule, so don't blame me."

Wang'er's wife was both embarrassed and anxious. She responded repeatedly and hurriedly left the gatehouse. She quickly went out through the side gate and came to the carriage where Wang Xifeng and Ping'er were riding. Through the curtain, she called out "Grandma" with a hint of urgency in her voice.

Wang Xifeng lifted the carriage curtain from the inside and hurriedly asked, "How is it?"

Wang'er's wife caught her breath, lowered her voice, and recounted the events that had just transpired in detail. She described how she met the eunuch Gu Bao'an, how she initially offered five taels of silver as a token of respect but was rejected, how the eunuch Gu demanded an exorbitant sum of fifteen taels from each person, making it twenty taels before he would even send a formal message, how Yu Lu's wife readily added the money, and how she herself returned in embarrassment…

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's two meticulously drawn willow-leaf eyebrows suddenly furrowed, a cold glint flashed in her phoenix eyes, and she gritted her teeth.

Back when Wang Xifeng was the head housekeeper of the Rongguo Mansion, she spent money like water. How could she have ever cared about twenty taels of silver? Even when she was giving tips, she would sometimes be more than that.

Now that she has been divorced and left the manor, although she has taken a lot of personal savings with her, it is like water without a source. She is living off her savings and has a group of servants who depend on her for their livelihood. She has to be careful with every tael of silver she spends.

These twenty taels of silver were actually used to fill the greed of a eunuch, just to deliver messages!

She cursed inwardly: "What a damned eunuch! That dog-like bastard dares to extort money like this! Relying on his master's power, he's a bully who's always trying to intimidate others! Humph, with Jiang Nian... with such a powerful figure as the Duke of this mansion, how could this parasite be tolerated? Sooner or later, I'll skin him alive!"

Despite cursing inwardly, she had no choice but to cross this threshold. She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger and bitterness, and turned to Ping'er, whispering, "Bring me fifteen taels of silver."

Ping'er nodded silently, took out a fifteen-tael silver ingot from a small bundle she carried, and handed it to Wang'er's wife. Wang Xifeng looked at the silver with a complicated expression, and finally waved her hand: "Go quickly and come back quickly, don't make things difficult."

Wang'er's wife took the silver, turned around and quickly went back into the east corner gate, returning to the gatehouse.

Gu Baoan continued drinking tea inside the room, while Yu Lu's wife stood awkwardly to the side.

Wang'er's wife hurriedly presented fifteen taels of silver, smiling obsequiously, "Thank you for waiting so long, Master Gu. The silver has been delivered. I hope you will be lenient with it."

Gu Baoan slowly stretched out his hand, weighing the silver in his palm, a satisfied expression on his face. Including the twenty taels from Yu Lu's family, forty taels of silver were in his hands in the blink of an eye.

"Hmm, this looks like someone asking for a favor." He slowly stood up, straightened his sleeves, and said, "You two wait here for a moment, I will go and give Madam my reply myself."

Having said that, he pocketed the silver, picked up the two visiting cards, and strolled out of the gatehouse.

In fact, according to the rules established by Yuan Yi, the task of delivering visiting cards and reporting visiting guests should have been handled personally by the gatekeeper eunuch, Gu Bao'an. Despite Gu Bao'an's haughty demeanor in front of Wang'er's and Yu Lu's families, he was not allowed to enter the inner quarters without permission. Yuan Yi had established family rules explicitly forbidding eunuchs from entering the inner quarters without authorization.

Gu Baoan arrived at the Inner Ceremonial Gate and found a palace maid on duty there. After learning the situation, the maid carried two visiting cards and entered the Inner Ceremonial Gate. Gu Baoan waited under the eaves of the Inner Ceremonial Gate.

The palace maid walked through the main hall and courtyard, heading straight for the east wing. Knowing that the Duke was taking a nap in the main hall, she moved quietly, afraid of disturbing him.

The east wing was cool and quiet. Yuan Chun was leaning against the kang bed by the window, dressed in a simple silk dress, engrossed in reading a musical score. Her personal maid was sitting on a nanmu chair, holding a qin (a seven-stringed zither), also reading a book silently.

Although Yuan Chun often took a nap, she deliberately staggered her nap time from Yuan Yi's so that she could personally serve Yuan Yi when he changed clothes.

The palace maid arrived at the door of the east wing room and saw that the brocade curtain was lowered and there was no sound inside. She lowered her voice and called softly, "Madam."

A gentle, deep voice came from inside: "Come in."

The palace maid then lifted the curtain and entered, curtsied, and presented the visiting card. After Yuan Chun had read the card, the maid whispered, "Madam, a message came from the gate that Lady You and Lady Wang are waiting outside the mansion requesting an audience."

Yuan Chun put down the visiting card, picked up a gold watch the size of a walnut from the kang table, glanced at the time, and asked, "Did they come by sedan chair or carriage?"

The palace maid replied, "They all came by carriage."

Yuan Chun nodded and instructed, "Have the eunuchs at the gate lead their carriage in. They should get off at the side gate. You go there and wait, then lead them to my courtyard."

The palace maid understood, replied "Yes," and quietly withdrew.

Yuan Chun turned her gaze back to the two visiting cards, lost in thought...

……

……

Two carriages, neither brand new nor old, waited outside the Duke's mansion for a while before finally receiving permission. They slowly drove in through the East Corner Gate, one after the other, into the main courtyard, and finally stopped steadily in front of the side gate on the east side of the ceremonial gate.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Ping'er stepped out of the first carriage. She looked cautious, not daring to look around, and turned to offer her assistance. A slender hand reached out from inside the carriage and rested on her wrist. Wang Xifeng, supporting her hand, gracefully stepped out of the carriage.

Almost simultaneously, a maid named Jinhua alighted from the carriage behind, and hurriedly turned back to help her mistress. Madam You, supported by her hand, slowly stepped out of the carriage.

Wang Xifeng stopped and looked at You Shi. Their eyes met, and a smile appeared on Wang Xifeng's lips as she nodded slightly. You Shi returned the smile and nodded as well. There was no exchange of pleasantries between them, partly because they were both awkward, and partly because this was the residence of a duke, with its solemn atmosphere, and with palace maids and eunuchs present.

The palace maid leading the way didn't say much, only softly saying "Please follow me" before leading the way.

Madam You and Wang Xifeng quickly composed themselves and followed, followed closely by Jin Hua, Ping'er, Yu Lu's wife, and Wang'er's wife.

The group entered the inner courtyard, passed Yuan Yi's inner study "Lishenzhai", and then came to Yuanchun Courtyard behind "Lishenzhai".

This Yuan Chun Courtyard was the residence of Lady You when she was the housekeeper of the Ningguo Mansion, and Wang Xifeng used to come here often. Today, Lady You, in her humble status, comes here to seek an audience and help from Yuan Chun, whom she looks up to.

Wang Xifeng couldn't help but glance at You Shi. You Shi was still feeling emotional and reflecting on her life when she suddenly felt Wang Xifeng's gaze sweep over her. She hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to straighten her sleeves.

Jin Hua, Ping Er, Yu Lu's wife, and Wang Er's wife stopped following. The palace maids continued to lead You Shi and Wang Xifeng to the main room of Yuan Chun Courtyard.

The main room is decorated in an elegant and refined style, with many exquisite objects that exude an imperial air.

Yuan Chun sat at the head of the table, not wearing elaborate makeup, yet her demeanor was dignified and noble, exuding an air of authority without anger. Beside her stood two maids, Bao Qin and Xi Ren.

Wang Xifeng and You Shi dared not delay, and hurriedly stepped forward, both curtsying and kneeling down.

Madam You spoke first, her voice slightly tense: "This humble woman, Madam You, pays her respects to you, Madam."

Wang Xifeng immediately followed: "This sinful woman, Wang, pays her respects to Madam and greets her."

Because Lady You was widowed, and her husband Jia Zhen had no official rank or title during his lifetime, according to the etiquette of the grand celebration, she referred to herself as "a common woman" in front of Yuan Chun. Wang Xifeng was in an even worse situation, because she was a divorced woman, and referred to herself as "a sinful woman" in front of Yuan Chun.

The self-designations of "commoner" and "sinful woman" are like two fine needles piercing each other's hearts.

Yuan Chun raised her hand slightly and smiled, "Get up quickly. No need for formalities, sit down and talk."

The two thanked her and then got up, but dared not sit down properly, instead leaning to one side. When Xiren brought tea, they quickly got up to accept it, repeatedly saying "I dare not," and thanked her again and again before sitting down again.

Yuan Chun carefully examined the two of them, her gaze finally settling on Wang Xifeng's face. With a smile, she said, "I told you before that I would choose a day to prepare a special feast for you and invite you over. But since moving into this mansion, I've been so busy with all sorts of things that I haven't had a moment to myself."

Wang Xifeng quickly bowed and said with a smile, "Madam, you flatter me! Madam is now extremely honored and in charge of the affairs of such a large family, which is only right. I am already extremely grateful to Madam for not deigning to see me today."

She paused, took out a gift list, and presented it with both hands: "I have heard of the extraordinary honor of the Duke's return to his clan and the conferment of a title. Today I have prepared a small gift to congratulate the Duke and his wife. I hope that the wife will accept it with pleasure."

Yuan Chun gestured for Bao Qin to take the gift list, and after personally examining it, she found it to be far from a "small gift." She smiled and said, "You are always so thoughtful. You already spent money on my housewarming last time, and you've come again today."

She knew Wang Xifeng was in a bad situation and would probably feel bad about handing over this generous gift. She had already made up her mind that when Wang Xifeng left today, she would definitely give her an even more lavish reward in return.

Because Madam You lived nearby, she had already sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.

Yuan Chun turned her gaze to You Shi, her smile still warm, and asked, "You are a rare guest today. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Madam You immediately felt extremely uneasy. What she wanted to ask for today was something difficult to say aloud; she had hoped to plead privately to save face. Unexpectedly, she had run into Wang Xifeng, making it impossible for her to bring herself to ask.
Before she could even utter a word, her face flushed red.

(End of this chapter)