The Red Mansion

Chapter 269 Seeing his heroic figure, I felt admiration.

At this moment, Madam You felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, her cheeks flushed red, the blush spreading all the way to the back of her ears.

Her lips trembled several times, but the words of pleading wouldn't come out. Her mind raced, and she wished she could immediately ask Wang Xifeng to leave. However, she stole a glance at Yuan Chun, who sat regally at the head of the table. Seeing her calm demeanor and dignified presence, and considering her own lowly position, how could she dare to act presumptuously in front of this extremely noble lady and make such an inappropriate and impolite request?
Yuan Chun, being astute, had already taken in You Shi's predicament. She did not urge her, but instead maintained a gentle, spring-like smile, her clear phoenix eyes gazing calmly at You Shi, patiently waiting.

Wang Xifeng also noticed You Shi's predicament. When she was the head housekeeper of Rongguo Mansion, she had many dealings with You Shi, but there was always a hidden tension between them. Seeing You Shi in such a sorry state, she couldn't help but feel amusement. However, she herself was also a person who had experienced ups and downs, and that bit of mockery quickly turned into a sense of shared sorrow.

After sitting stiffly for a while, Madam You realized that she couldn't avoid it. She steeled her heart and thought to herself that since she had come here today, she would not leave empty-handed.

She suddenly stood up, her steps trembling slightly as she walked to Yuan Chun's seat. With a "plop," she knelt down on both knees. Before she could speak, tears welled up in her eyes: "Good Madam! To tell you the truth, I have come to this humble woman today to beg for an audience with you because I have a difficult matter to ask for your mercy!"

Yuan Chun leaned slightly forward, offering a gesture of support, and said, "What are you doing? What's wrong? Please get up and tell me slowly."

Madam You refused to rise, sobbing, "Since my master and Rong-ge'er passed away, there has been no one to head the household. For the past year, I, a widow, have struggled to keep going, with the help of Qiang-ge'er, barely managing to stay afloat. But now... now..."

At this point, she was overcome with grief, choked with sobs, and after a pause, continued, "Now, because of the family's ill-gotten gains, a terrible mess has arisen! Qiang'er is gone, the magistrate of the West Mansion has been stripped of his title and arrested, and the entire Jia clan now sees me as a jinx, criticizing and gossiping about me. I am a helpless widow, and hearing those words fills me with fear and dread. And that's not all; today, officers from the Ministry of Justice came to my door with a warrant, summoning me to the Ministry of Justice's main hall tomorrow to give a statement! I am but a woman, and my family has been destroyed; now I am left alone to face the majestic court of the Ministry of Justice, with no one to hear my cries for help!"

She looked at Yuan Chun with tearful eyes, her pleading expression overflowing: "After much thought, in the entire capital, only you, Madam, might still remember some of our past affection, and remember that I am, after all, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jia family's main branch, and be willing to show mercy and protect me. I am willing to give half of my family's existing wealth to Fourth Miss, begging you, Madam, to say a word for me in this time of crisis, to protect me!"

If Wang Xifeng were still the mistress of the Rongguo Mansion, she would have secretly sneered at the sight of You Shi kneeling and begging, tears streaming down her face. However, now that she herself had fallen from grace and tasted the bitterness of human nature, seeing You Shi in this state evoked a sense of shared sorrow, a feeling of sympathy for a woman who had also lost her power, and she felt a slight sting in her nose.

Lady You knelt on the spot, not bothering to wipe away the tears streaming down her face, letting them fall onto her clothes and soak them with dark color. She simply looked up, her tear-filled eyes filled with pleading and hope, staring intently at Yuan Chun.

Yuan Chun hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice still calm: "Please stand up and speak. I already know your difficulties."

She paused slightly, her gaze clear, and looked directly at Madam You: "Protecting you a little is not impossible. At the very least, I can ensure you are not expelled from the Jia family. As for your willingness to give half of the family fortune to Xichun..." She nodded slightly, "This is your father-in-law's wish, and it is also Xichun's due share. However, the criminal case is not yet concluded, and it is not the time to deal with these mundane matters. It is not too late to discuss it after the storm has passed."

At this point, her tone turned serious: "As for the Ministry of Justice's questioning tomorrow... since this case has already alarmed the Emperor and been listed as an imperial case, you must be even more careful with your words and actions. When you go to court, do not panic, and do not speak recklessly. Just tell the truth about what you know and have experienced. They will not make things difficult for a woman like you without reason."

Upon hearing this, Madam You hurriedly kowtowed and expressed her gratitude: "Thank you so much, Madam! I will never forget your kindness!"

Her gratitude was mostly genuine. Jia She's loss of the Rongguo Mansion's hereditary title was related to her. Yuan Chun, however, was the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, and instead of taking her anger out on her, she was willing to protect her.

Yuan Chun asked You Shi to get up again, and You Shi finally stood up, sat down again with her body leaning to one side, and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

Yuan Chun looked at Wang Xifeng, who was standing silently to the side, and said with a smile, "And you? Is there anything else you want to say today?"

Wang Xifeng curtsied, a clever smile plastered on her face, though tinged with a bittersweet tinge of bygone times: "Replying to Madam, the primary reason I've come today is to congratulate you and the Duke on this joyous occasion. Secondly, it has been some time since I last saw you, and I've missed you dearly. I wonder if you have some free time today? If you don't mind, I would truly like to speak with you a little longer, to chat about our personal matters."

Her words were clearly a deliberate attempt to curry favor, and she knew they were somewhat shameless, but she didn't care.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun did not respond. Instead, she took out a gold watch the size of a walnut, glanced at the time, pondered for a moment, and then smiled at Wang Xifeng, saying, "Very well, I did have some things I wanted to say to you. Unfortunately, at this hour, the Duke of the manor is about to wake up from his afternoon nap, and I need to go and serve him. You can sit here for a while, have a cup of tea, and I will return as soon as I have settled things over there. In addition, I have something else to give you."

Upon hearing the words "Lord of the County," Wang Xifeng's heart stirred. While her primary purpose in coming today was to curry favor with Yuan Chun, she also harbored a glimmer of hope that she might be fortunate enough to meet the Lord of the County.
However, she couldn't reveal her thoughts, so she quickly suppressed her excitement and her smile became even more earnest: "Please, Madam! This humble woman will wait here. Madam and the Duke are a harmonious couple, and you do everything yourself. You are truly virtuous and a model for the world." She then flattered him a few more times.

Yuan Chun smiled slightly, said nothing more, and stood up.

Upon seeing this, Lady You and Wang Xifeng quickly stood up and stood with their hands at their sides.

Yuan Chun smiled at You Shi and said, "Since you have nothing else to do, come with me. I'm going to the main hall next door anyway, so I'll give you a ride."

Lady You was flattered and said repeatedly, "I dare not trouble you, Madam. I will go out on my own."

Yuan Chun had already moved on, and Lady You had no choice but to follow respectfully. Bao Qin accompanied Yuan Chun, and the three of them left the main room and headed towards the side hall.

……

……

Yuan Yi took a midday nap today and woke up in less than half an hour. Xiangling helped him change into a black Hangzhou silk outfit so that he could practice martial arts.

Yuan Yijue felt refreshed and walked out of the main hall, heading straight for Yuanchun Courtyard. There, he met Jinhua, Ping'er, Yu Lu's wife, and Wang'er's wife.

Ping'er and the other three hurriedly knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness! We pay our respects to Your Highness!"

Yuan Yi glanced around and said indifferently, "Get up, all of you." His gaze lingered on Ping'er. He noticed that the maid was dressed in silk and satin, and although she was not dressed in flamboyant makeup, she had a charming demeanor. She was pretty and had a gentle look in her eyes. Among the maids and servants, she was like a jewel. He couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.

When Ping'er saw Yuan Yi looking her over, she lowered her head in embarrassment, her face flushing red.

Yuan Yi asked, "Ping'er, what are you doing here?"

Ping'er hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Replying to Your Excellency, this servant has come with my mistress to pay respects to the lady."

Yuan Yi nodded, and was about to ask again when he suddenly saw figures moving in the passageway. Yuan Chun led Bao Qin and You Shi out.

When Yuan Chun saw Yuan Yi, she was slightly taken aback, then quickened her pace and stepped forward, smiling, "Why did you get up so early today, Fourth Master?"

Yuan Yi smiled and said, "I only slept for less than half an hour before waking up, so I came to see you."

His gaze shifted to Lady You behind Yuan Chun. When Lady You saw his gaze fall upon her, her heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, knelt down deeply, her voice trembling slightly: "This humble woman, Lady You, pays her respects to Your Excellency, the Duke."

Yuan Yi remained calm, merely raising his hand slightly: "No need for formalities." He then said to Yuan Chun, "Since you have guests, go and greet them. I'm going to the main courtyard to practice martial arts."

After all, he turned around and wanted to leave.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he remembered something, stopped, turned back, and beckoned to Yuan Chun. Yuan Chun understood and quickly approached. Yuan Yi leaned down slightly and whispered in Yuan Chun's ear, "Ask the guests carefully whether the eunuch Gu Bao'an at the gate followed the proper procedures when they came to the mansion to present their petitions for an audience today. Did he take the opportunity to extort money or demand a 'gate fee'? How much did he demand? This is no small matter and cannot be neglected."

Yuan Chun's eyes flashed, and she nodded solemnly, saying in a low voice, "Fourth Master, rest assured, I understand."

Yuan Yi nodded slightly to Yuan Chun, then turned and strode away.

A few days ago, when the ceremonial attendants, guards, eunuchs, and palace maids of the manor first reported to the Duke's mansion, Yuan Yi solemnly admonished them. He instructed the ceremonial attendants and guards to be conscientious in their duties and to keep to their proper place; he also strictly instructed the eunuchs and palace maids to strictly abide by all the rules and regulations, to be diligent and careful, and to act in a proper manner.

However, only a few days later, some people began to disregard his admonitions, paying lip service to them while secretly disobeying them, and this was not an isolated incident.

Yuan Yi was no ordinary man; even if he didn't know the details of the affairs in the mansion, he was always well-informed through his own ears.

He had already heard that Gu Baoan, the eunuch in charge of guarding the gates and summoning guests, was taking advantage of his position to extort money from outsiders, and was greedy and demanding exorbitant amounts.

He specifically instructed Yuan Chun to question You Shi and Wang Xifeng. Once the facts were confirmed, he would first target Gu Bao'an, not only to eliminate this corrupt official but also to make an example of him to warn the newly arrived ceremonial staff, guards, eunuchs, palace maids, and all the guards: the rules here are not just for show! Those who break the rules will not be let off lightly!
Having received Yuan Yi's earnest instructions, Yuan Chun knew that this matter concerned the discipline and authority of the prefecture and was no ordinary trivial matter, so how could she dare to be negligent?

After Yuan Yi left, Yuan Chun quietly called You Shi aside and asked her in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Madam You hesitated. She was afraid that if she told the truth, she would offend the eunuch Gu Baoan and be resented by him, and that trouble would arise. Therefore, she looked troubled and spoke evasively.

Yuan Chun, observing his expression, already knew most of what was going on, and said in a low voice, "Just tell the truth, it won't hurt you."

When Madam You heard Yuan Chun say this, she knew she couldn't avoid it, so she could only stammer, "Reporting to Madam, it is true... it is true that I gave the eunuch at the gate twenty taels of silver as a 'respect gift'." As for the details of being harassed and forced to pay more, she did not go into them.

Yuan Chun didn't ask any more questions, nodded and said, "I understand, you can go now." She then had a palace maid lead You Shi out, and turned back to the main room to ask Wang Xifeng the same question again.

Wang Xifeng hesitated at first. Although she was shrewish, she was now alone and weak, and she was afraid of causing more trouble.

Yuan Chun said gently, "Just tell the truth, there are no outsiders here."

Wang Xifeng had been harboring resentment towards Eunuch Gu for his extortion, but seeing Yuan Chun pressing her for answers, she knew he must have a ulterior motive. So she steeled herself and recounted in detail how Wang'er's family had initially offered five taels of silver, only to be told it was too little, and how Eunuch Gu had acted arrogantly, insisting that each person add another fifteen taels to reach a total of twenty taels before he would deliver the petition.

Yuan Chun listened quietly, thinking to herself, "Fourth Master is such a person who can't tolerate any nonsense. It's only been a few days, and that Eunuch Gu dares to act so recklessly. He really brought this upon himself!"

……

……

Yuan Yi left Yuan Chun's courtyard and headed straight for the main courtyard.

He has always had the rule of practicing martial arts in the afternoon, but since the training ground on the west side of the Duke's mansion is still under renovation and cannot be used for the time being, he will practice martial arts in the main courtyard for the time being.

At this moment, Yuan Yi arrived at the spacious main courtyard and ordered his men to summon the ceremonial staff, guards, and military officers of the manor, who lined up in a dense, dark mass. Meng Xiong was among them, while He Yun and He Zhong had already gone south to Jiangning to handle the relocation of the remains.

Yuan Yi personally took up his sword and led everyone in training.

The glint of swords flashed, chilling the sunlight, and shouts echoed throughout the courtyard.

Just then, Lady You's carriage passed through the main courtyard and left the mansion. Hearing the deafening sounds of battle emanating from within, she couldn't resist her curiosity and quietly peeked out from behind a corner of the curtain. She saw Yuan Yi standing before the crowd, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his movements as agile as a leopard, his commands decisive, and his heroic spirit overwhelming. Lady You, witnessing his heroic bearing, couldn't help but feel admiration, secretly marveling that he was indeed a prince of the imperial family, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

After practicing his swordsmanship, Yuan Yi led his men in practicing archery. The bowstrings twanged, and arrows pierced the air in perfect order, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent.

After Wang Xifeng finished her conversation with Yuan Chun and received a generous reward from her, she took her leave with Ping'er.

As the carriage passed through the main courtyard, the sounds of drills could also be heard.

Wang Xifeng couldn't help but lift the curtain to peek, and saw Yuan Yi leading everyone to shoot arrows, sweating profusely, his expression focused and dignified.

As she gazed at him, she became lost in thought, a sudden thought surfacing in her mind, a surge of indescribable bitterness and envy welling up within her. She sighed inwardly, "Such a man, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and of noble birth, is still so diligent... It's a pity he's not my master..."

She even nudged Ping'er beside her so that Ping'er could see too.

Looking over, Ping'er saw the Duke's imposing figure and elegant demeanor, and she was deeply impressed, her face filled with admiration.

After the carriage left through the East Gate and entered the street, Wang Xifeng was still savoring what she had just seen. She sighed to Ping'er, "Look at him! The former Lord Jiang, now a prince and duke, a person of noble birth, is still so diligent, practicing martial arts and training troops without ceasing. If this continues, with his talent and the emperor's favor, he will probably be enfeoffed as a king and appointed as a general in the future, becoming a great general who will be famous throughout the land!"

After saying this, he let out another long sigh, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

(End of this chapter)