The Red Mansion

Chapter 271 When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break metal.

On May 25th, although the grand ceremony of Yuan Chun being conferred the title of Lady of the Duke of the County was over, a solemn and festive atmosphere still lingered in the mansion.

Yuan Yi did not indulge in this glitz and glory. In the afternoon, he continued to practice martial arts and train soldiers as usual. After bathing and changing his clothes, he sat alone in the inner study, "Lishenzhai," dismissing his attendants, and copied scriptures. When he got tired, he read books.

At this moment, he was flipping through a notebook containing an old story detailing how a favored eunuch in the mansion of a powerful prince, relying on his master's power, controlled the gates and extorted "gate fees" from officials who came to pay their respects. His demands were insatiable, ultimately leading to his impeachment, the confiscation of his property, his dismissal from public service, and his exile to the frontier—a truly tragic end. Between the lines, one could see how arrogant the eunuch had once been, and how wretched his end had become.

When Yuan Yi read this part, his gaze was fixed on the page. The words "controlling access control", "extortion", and "unbridled demands" were like steel needles piercing his eyes.

He recalled Gu Bao'an, the eunuch who held the power to guard the gates and summon people in his residence. How similar his behavior was to that of the wicked servant in the book! How dare he be so audacious!
Thinking of this, his expression remained calm, but a cold glint appeared in his eyes. He immediately called out, "Xiangling."

Xiangling entered in response.

Yuan Yi instructed, "Send someone to summon the eunuch Gu Baoan to come see me immediately."

Xiangling responded and left.

In a short while, Gu Baoan bowed and entered the "Lishenzhai" (Hall of Standing Firm). He gave Yuan Yi a deep bow and put on a subservient smile: "This servant, Gu Baoan, greets Your Highness. May I ask what Your Highness has commanded me?"

Yuan Yi casually tapped the open scroll on the table with his fingers, his gaze towards Gu Baoan was calm, and his tone was flat: "I heard that you took advantage of your position as a gatekeeper to extort money from visitors outside, and that you were greedy and insatiable? Is that true?"

Gu Baoan was taken aback upon hearing this. He had assumed that the Duke was in a good mood because of the grand ceremony of bestowing titles upon officials in the mansion today. He had not expected that this summons would be for this very reason.

However, he had long anticipated that this matter would be difficult to conceal and that he would be questioned by Yuan Yi sooner or later, so he had already prepared a set of excuses.

He paused for a moment, thinking to himself, "They really came." He was neither alarmed nor did he deny it. He bowed even lower, his smile becoming even more submissive, and replied, "Replying to Your Excellency, it is true that this servant accepted a small amount of 'respect' from the guests. However... since Your Excellency has just returned to the clan and been granted a title, you may not know that this is a long-standing custom in the residences of various princes in the capital. It is not that this servant is audacious or has taken it upon himself to demand it."

He glanced at Yuan Yi's expression and, seeing no anger, emboldened to continue, "My lord, please consider what kind of family we are now? We are of noble birth, the residence of a duke! When guests come to pay their respects and request an audience, if we were to be stingy with even a small token of respect, wouldn't that be disrespectful and impolite? Our servants wait day and night, welcoming and seeing off guests. It's hard work, and we need some tea to soothe our throats, don't we? What we've done is simply following the customs of the capital, maintaining the dignity of your residence. We have not dared to be greedy or act recklessly."

His words were tactful and considerate, as if he were entirely loyal and only concerned with maintaining the dignity of his master.

Yuan Yi listened quietly, a smile slowly spreading across his face, as if he had been persuaded by Gu Baoan.

He nodded, his tone even somewhat gentle: "Oh? So this is the custom of each prefecture, to maintain appearances? I understand. You may leave now."

Seeing this, Gu Baoan felt relieved and secretly delighted. He thought that he had cleverly let the matter pass and even felt that the young prince and duke who had just returned to the imperial family was indeed not very familiar with the "customs and etiquette" of the noble families in the capital. He thought he could continue to profit from this in the future.

He quickly suppressed his smugness and respectfully bowed again, saying, "Yes! This servant takes his leave."

Having said that, he bowed his head and backed out.

Little did he know that the moment he turned to leave, the faint smile on Yuan Yi's face vanished without a trace, leaving only a cold, sharp glint in his eyes.

Beneath his smile lay not leniency, but a sharp edge!
The study returned to silence.

Yuan Yi's gaze returned to the open book on the table. His fingertips slowly traced the words that recorded the eventual confiscation of the property and exile to the frontier of the wicked servant of the Prince's mansion. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.

This Gu Baoan dared to play such tricks in front of him, using "custom" and "decency" as shields. He was really being clever, and he didn't even realize he was about to die.

How could Yuan Yi allow such a corrupt official to undermine his rules? Perfect, let's use this incident to rectify the prefectural regulations, to warn others and make an example of one to deter a hundred, so that orders can be strictly enforced.

Although the ceremonial guards and bodyguards of the manor were selected and assigned by the Imperial Clan Court, and the eunuchs and palace maids by the Imperial Household Department, even the dozens of guards that Yuan Yi selected from his own male retainers could not be severely punished without his permission. However, in Yuan Yi's view, since this was his Duke's manor, everyone in the manor, regardless of who they were or what their background was, should abide by his rules!

……

……

The eunuch Gu Baoan had only been at Yuan Yi's residence for a few days, yet he dared to act with impunity, using his authority as a gatekeeper to extort money from guests. His greed was insatiable, his demands boundless, and he disregarded Yuan Yi's initial strict discipline, outwardly complying but inwardly defying him. The root of his actions was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but rather a result of his reliance on others.

Gu Baoan was over forty years old and had been working for many years. He was quite senior and had seen a lot of things.

There's another crucial point: All the eunuchs and palace maids in Yuan Yi's Duke's residence, though serving there, were originally from the families of the emperor's retainers. Their names, salaries, performance evaluations, and even the power of life and death were firmly in the hands of the Imperial Household Department, not the Duke's private property. Yuan Yi was merely using them "temporarily." If they committed offenses, Yuan Yi could punish them slightly; but if he wanted to use severe punishment, dismiss them, or even expel them, he would have to write to the Imperial Household Department for a decision. This was a court regulation designed to prevent members of the imperial family from building their own private factions that could become too powerful. Therefore, these people, nominally "people of the Duke's residence," were fundamentally "people of the emperor." Gu Bao'an understood this well and felt he had something to rely on.

Furthermore, it is indeed a common practice, almost a regular occurrence, for the various princely residences and noble families in the capital to collect gate fees. Not to mention the Duke's residence, even the Rongguo Mansion next door, whose gatekeepers also regard gate fees as a matter of routine, sometimes extorting money from outsiders.

For these reasons, Gu Bao'an was bold. In his eyes, Yuan Yi was a newly reinstated prince, only seventeen years old, and ultimately lacked a solid foundation. He might not be well aware of the intricate web of rules and regulations among the nobles in the capital. Why would he make a big fuss and severely punish him over a trivial matter like "door-keeping"? At most, he would only give him a reprimand and a few words of polite scolding, and that would be it. Even if he were truly angry and wanted to send him to the Imperial Household Department for punishment, based on this "customary" matter and the connections he had cultivated within the Imperial Household Department, he expected it to be all bark and no bite, unable to harm Yuan Yi's core.

At this moment, Gu Baoan came out of "Lishenzhai" and thought to himself that he had gotten away with Yuan Yi. His sense of luck mixed with his pride grew secretly.

He walked back to the gatehouse with his hands behind his back, taking leisurely steps.

The young eunuch Tian Feng was tending the tea stove. Upon seeing Gu Baoan, he hurriedly stood up, a fawning smile plastered on his face. He deftly poured a freshly brewed cup of fragrant tea and offered it to him, asking, "Master Gu, you're back? The Duke suddenly summoned you; what urgent instructions does he have?" Gu Baoan sat down casually, took the teacup, blew away the foam, took a sip, and then slowly raised his eyelids, glancing at Tian Feng. The smugness he had suppressed in front of Yuan Yi was now undisguised in front of this young eunuch. He snorted and drawled, "Nothing much. It's just that the Duke overheard some gossip and asked about the rules for accepting 'respectful greetings' at the gate."

Upon hearing this, Tian Feng's heart skipped a beat, but his smile widened even more: "Oh dear, this is a big deal! What does the Duke mean by this?"

Gu Baoan became increasingly pretentious, embellishing the conversation they had just had in the "Lishenzhai" and boasting, "Since you have just returned to the clan, you are naturally not very familiar with the customs of the capital. So I explained it to you in detail that all the mansions are like this, it is not something we created alone. This matter of 'respectful etiquette' is related to the dignity of the mansion, not to embezzlement. You understood the reasoning as soon as you heard it, and only said 'I understand' before letting me return."

After speaking, he took another sip of tea, his expression arrogant, as if he had accomplished something great.

Tian Feng's eyes lit up, and he quickly began to calculate. Seeing how easily Gu Baoan had passed the test, and with the Duke seemingly approving of his actions, he was filled with envy and a desire to curry favor. He thought to himself, "Indeed, the old fox is shrewd! With Gu's methods and confidence, he'll definitely be a influential figure in this mansion in the future. I must follow him closely and carefully flatter him. In the future, whenever guests come seeking favors, Gu will feast, and I'll get the leftovers. Even if I only get scraps, it'll be ten times better than working hard as a servant! My day of riches is just around the corner!"

Thinking of this, his smile grew even sweeter, and he bent even lower, hurriedly refilling Gu Baoan's hot water, flattering him as he said, "As expected of Master Gu! So experienced and knowledgeable, you made the Duke understand in just a few words. It's truly a blessing for the manor to have you in charge, and a fortune for us servants! We beg Master Gu to continue to guide and mentor us in the future!"

Gu Baoan enjoyed his flattery, squinting his eyes and nodding slightly, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

……

……

Since returning to his ancestral home, Yuan Yi has been exceptionally meticulous in observing the rituals and etiquette of the imperial family.

He had already taken the initiative to petition Emperor Taishun, intending to frequently visit Changchun Garden to pay his respects to Emperor Taishun, the Retired Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress, in order to fulfill his filial duty as a son and enjoy the happiness of family life.

Emperor Taishun, however, refused to grant the request, citing that "living within the city and frequently visiting the gardens would be futile and inconvenient, and not necessary." He only stipulated the "gifts on the first and fifteenth of each month," requiring Yuan Yi to pay his respects on those days. If there were other matters to attend to, Emperor Taishun would summon him.

Since this is the Emperor's will, Yuan Yi will naturally comply.

It is already May 26th.

After several sunny days, the sky over Shenjing City turned gloomy this morning, with gray clouds pressing down on the city walls. Although it did not rain, there was no sign of sunshine, which did reduce the summer heat somewhat.

Today is not the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month, yet Yuan Yi is going to Changchun Garden with the newly appointed Yuan Chun.

The stated reason was that Yuan Chun had been granted the title of Lady of the Duke of the County yesterday and should therefore enter the garden to express her gratitude.

In fact, Yuan Yi had other plans in mind.

Although Yuan Yi had been summoned to Changchun Garden to meet the Emperor a few days prior due to the Jia She case, he had not paid his respects to the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Dowager, and Empress for some time. This was a good opportunity for him to make an appearance before these supreme rulers, to show his filial piety, and to maintain their relationships. Such acts of "making his presence felt" were necessary for ordinary princes, but even more so for a prince like him, who had recently returned to the imperial family and whose power base was still shallow.

In addition, Yuan Yi had already decided to severely punish the arrogant and corrupt eunuch Gu Baoan, and decided to report this matter to Emperor Taishun today.

Summer days are long, and even in the early hours of the morning, the first rays of dawn were already appearing in the east. Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun had already gotten up. In an instant, the room was brightly lit, and a group of maids, including Xiangling, Baoqin, Xiren, and Qingwen, bustled about, attending to their washing, dressing, and grooming. Yuan Yi changed into his dark blue county court robes, wearing a court hat and a gold belt, instantly giving him a dignified and solemn air. Yuan Chun, on the other hand, wore her newly bestowed auspicious robes for the wife of a county duke, which were extremely beautiful, adorned with pearl and jade hairpins.

After dressing properly, the couple ate only a light breakfast. Yuan Chun then looked in the mirror, and with the careful attention of Bao Qin and Xi Ren, she tidied her appearance again to ensure that her hair and accessories were in accordance with the rules.

Everything was in order, and it was only the hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Although it was already daylight, the garden was still shrouded in clouds, making the light and shadow uncertain.

Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun boarded the spacious and luxurious imperial carriage of the Duke of the County together. Before the carriage, the master of ceremonies solemnly led the way, with guards on both sides following with their hands on their swords, and military officers accompanying them. Maids and servants followed closely behind in small carriages with blue curtains.

Although the procession was not extremely grand, it still possessed the solemn air of an imperial noble family.

The carriage rumbled out of Ningrong Street and headed towards Changchun Garden in the western suburbs.

Although Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun rode together in the Duke's imperial carriage, Yuan Chun specially ordered someone to drive her own Duke's wife's carriage to accompany them.

The last time she accompanied Yuan Yi to Changchun Garden to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager kindly instructed: "Since you came with Yi'er today, I won't keep you any longer. I will summon you in another day to keep me company."

Yuan Chun, being meticulous, had already kept these words firmly in mind. Today, she had already decided that after expressing her gratitude, she would not return to the palace with Yuan Yi, but would instead take the opportunity to stay in the garden and keep the Empress Dowager company, thus enjoying her company. She had prepared her own carriage for this purpose.

While Yuan Yi was working hard to win the emperor's favor, his wife Yuan Chun also had her own long-term plans.

Yuan Chun knew that in the deep palace, besides the Emperor's favor, the Empress Dowager and the Empress's favor were also crucial. If she could gain more of the Empress Dowager's favor, or even the Empress's, it would naturally be of great benefit to her, and would also be an intangible help to her husband Yuan Yi's future.

The couple had been carefully managing their own foothold amidst the wealth and unpredictable changes of the imperial family.

When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can break even metal!
The carriage travels along the official road, with the scenery outside the window changing and flowing.

The two people in the car were each lost in their own thoughts, both pointing to the royal forbidden garden—Changchun Garden.

(End of this chapter)