The Red Mansion

Chapter 278 Imperial Conference, Rong Mansion's Property Confiscated

The case of Jia She's unleashing his servant's violence, which resulted in Jia Qiang's death, was jointly investigated and severely punished by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate. Such cases were originally complicated and lengthy, involving a wide range of people, but because it was an important case personally overseen by Emperor Taishun, it was handled swiftly and decisively, without any delay.

Since the imperial edict was issued on May 22nd, stripping Jia She of his title and arresting him for questioning, in just five days, by May 27th, the three judicial departments had thoroughly investigated the case, including the details of the case, the testimonies of those involved, the evidence, and the results of the investigation, and wrote a detailed report to be submitted to the emperor.

The memorial contained far more than just the incident of shoving Jia Qiang to death. It also detailed how Jia She had long coveted the vast fortune of the Jia family's eldest branch, how he had repeatedly coerced his widowed niece-in-law, You Shi, into handing over the family wealth, and how You Shi had frequently taken Jia family's private property to give to her own family after the deaths of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong. All of this was clearly verified and recorded.

Jia She was imprisoned and faced a stern joint trial by the three judicial authorities. In his attempt to escape punishment, he became insane and spoke recklessly.

He not only shifted the blame to the powerful servant who committed the crime, but also tried his best to implicate You Shi and Jia Qiang, claiming that in the past year since the death of Jia Zhen and his son, You Shi had gradually moved a lot of the Jia family's property back to her maternal home, You Shi; while Jia Qiang behaved absurdly, engaging in cockfighting, dog racing, and womanizing, and spending money like water.

He claimed that he was heartbroken to see the family business, which his ancestors had worked so hard to accumulate, being squandered by You Shi and Jia Qiang, and that's why he wanted to take back the family business of the Jia family's eldest branch to the Rongguo Mansion for safekeeping.

After extensive investigation and rigorous questioning of relevant witnesses, the three judicial authorities determined that although You Shi and Jia Qiang were not as despicable as Jia She had falsely accused them of, You Shi did indeed frequently give the Jia family's eldest branch's private property to her maternal family, and Jia Qiang did indeed enjoy cockfighting, dog racing, and womanizing.

Jia She's accusations only amplified his own guilt, dragging You Shi, Jia Qiang, and the eldest branch of the Jia family into this mess. It was a lose-lose situation!
Based on the facts of the crime ascertained and mindful of Emperor Taishun's decree to "severely punish offenders," the three judicial departments ultimately proposed the following punishment: the ringleader Jia She and his eldest son Jia Lian would both be exiled, and their property would be confiscated; the powerful servant who pushed Jia Qiang to his death would be executed in the autumn; and this "confiscation of property" was not limited to Jia She and Jia Lian, but also affected the entire Rongguo Mansion!

The reason is that although Jia She and Jia Zheng have separated into different households, they have not divided their property. According to the laws of the Daqing era, the property of the Rongguo Mansion is still nominally one entity. As the eldest son of the Rongguo Mansion and the heir to the title, Jia She committed a crime that resulted in an imperial case. His guilt could affect the entire Rongguo Mansion. Therefore, the three judicial departments suggested that all the property of the Rongguo Mansion be confiscated and put to public use.

In addition, the three judicial departments also suggested that the property of the eldest branch of the Jia family be confiscated, on the grounds that: Lady You "did not uphold the virtues of womanhood and embezzled the family property," and Jia Qiang "ruined the family." The two mismanaged the family property, causing trouble, and this was to eliminate future troubles and remove the source of chaos.

Emperor Taishun sat on his desk in the warm pavilion of Danning Residence, carefully reading through this weighty memorial. Seeing its detailed analysis and stringent suggestions, he couldn't help but hesitate.

He took Yuan Yi into consideration, after all, Yuan Chun was Yuan Yi's wife, and he also needed to weigh the opinions of the court and the public.

After much deliberation, Emperor Taishun did not immediately issue a vermilion edict. Instead, he set the memorial aside and decided to discuss it with several important princes and ministers at the imperial conference the next morning before making a final decision.

This memorial, which concerned the fate of the Rongguo Mansion, which had been prominent for nearly a century, awaited its final verdict after a brief silence.

A sense of impending doom, like the impending storm, seemed to hang over the capital city...

……

……

The following day, May 28th.

At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), in the Danning Residence of Changchun Garden, Emperor Taishun, as usual, summoned several important princes and ministers for a small-scale imperial meeting.

The group consisted of only a few people, all of whom were key figures who truly held power in the current court.

This included Prince Zhongyi Yuan Xiang, Grand Secretary and concurrently a member of the Southern Study Fu Qi, Minister of Revenue and concurrently a member of the Hanlin Academy and concurrently a member of the Southern Study Wang Tingyu, and Lu Keduo, who recently held the important positions of Minister of Personnel and Military Governor of the Beijing Garrison due to the favor bestowed upon him by the retired Emperor Jingning.

Because of his newly acquired title of Minister of Personnel, Lu Keduo was able to enter such core secret discussions, which shows how favored he was by the emperor. He was indeed a high-ranking official with immense power.

The emperor and his ministers first discussed several important national affairs, some concerning border provisions and others involving canals and waterways, and all of them had a plan.

The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn and focused.

At this moment, Emperor Taishun gently put down a memorial in his hand, glanced at the princes and ministers in front of him, and said slowly, "I would like to discuss with you the next matter—how should we deal with Jia She of the Rongguo Mansion?"

After speaking, he handed the joint report from the three judicial departments regarding the trial results of Jia She's case to Prince Zhongyi, Yuan Xiang, who was standing beside him. Yuan Xiang bowed and accepted it, carefully reading through it. The others waited in silence. Soon after, the report was passed around among Fu Qi, Wang Tingyu, Lu Keduo, and others.

After everyone had seen it, the hall fell into a brief silence.

Several high-ranking officials and ministers remained silent, none of them speaking first.

Although the case itself is not very complicated, its implications are extraordinary.

Although the Rongguo Mansion has declined in recent years, it was, after all, the residence of the founding Duke, and had been prominent for nearly a century. It was also deeply favored and protected by Emperor Jingning.

Of particular importance is that Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion who is now married, is the wife of Yuan Yizhi, the fourth prince of the emperor, who has recently returned to the imperial family and is currently enjoying great favor. This marital relationship makes the handling of Jia She's case, and to what extent, all the more delicate.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Emperor Taishun called out to him, "Thirteenth Prince, you speak first, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Prince Zhongyi, Yuan Xiang, pondered for a moment, then said respectfully, “Your Majesty, I believe that the three judicial departments’ decision to sentence Jia She to exile and confiscate his property, and to execute the powerful servant who pushed Jia Qiang to his death in the autumn, is both in accordance with the law and reasonable, and there is nothing wrong with it.”

He then changed the subject, continuing, "However, sentencing Jia Lian, Jia She's eldest son, to exile in this case seems too harsh. I believe that confiscating his property as a punishment is sufficient; he need not be exiled. Furthermore..."

He paused slightly, as if considering his words: "Furthermore, confiscating all the undivided properties of the Rongguo Mansion would involve too many people and might cause public outcry. In addition, although Lady You of the Jia family's eldest branch did indeed give family wealth to her maternal family, and Jia Qiang did indeed squander the family fortune, the circumstances were not particularly egregious. Confiscating all the property of the Jia family's eldest branch would seem too harsh."

After listening, Emperor Taishun remained noncommittal, turning his gaze to Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu: "What are your thoughts?"

Fu Qi and Wang Tingyu were both mature and prudent people, and they knew that this matter was sensitive. They exchanged a glance, and Fu Qi spoke first, speaking cautiously: "In my humble opinion, Prince Zhongyi's considerations are quite comprehensive. The matter of Jia Lian's exile and the confiscation of all the property of the Rongguo Mansion and the Jia family's eldest branch should indeed be reconsidered."

Wang Tingyu echoed, "I second that. Although the law is strict, we must also consider the facts and merits of those who have rendered meritorious service."

Emperor Tai Shun finally turned his gaze to Lukodo, who had remained silent all along: "Lukodo, what about you?"

Lu Keduo hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the three judicial departments have their reasons for judging the crimes according to the law; Prince Zhongyi's consideration for the meritorious officials and his thorough consideration are also in the best interests of the people. Your Majesty, I am foolish and cannot make a decision for the time being. I humbly beg Your Majesty to make the final decision."

These words were so well-chosen that it was as if the ball had been kicked back to Emperor Taishun.

After listening to the opinions of several people, especially Prince Zhongyi, Emperor Taishun had already made up his mind.

He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice steady and authoritative: "Since that's the case, my mind is made up. The decision shall be made according to the majority of the proposals of the Three Judicial Offices: Jia She, having allowed his servants to commit violence and bully the widowed and orphaned, is guilty beyond redemption and is sentenced to exile. His property shall be confiscated. His eldest son, Jia Lian, though not guilty of major crimes, is still implicated and will be spared exile, but his property shall also be confiscated. The notorious servants will be executed in the autumn." He paused slightly, a cold glint in his eyes: "The property of the Jia family's eldest branch should also be confiscated, but a very small amount may be left for You Shi to maintain her livelihood! As for the undivided property of the Rongguo Mansion, considering their ancestral merits and current circumstances, it will not be confiscated."

This decision is already severe.

Back when Jia Zhen committed a crime and was stripped of his title, Emperor Taishun had already coveted the vast estate of the Ningguo Mansion, but was unable to act on it at the time. Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, he could completely confiscate the former Ningguo Mansion's assets and put an end to his worries.

However, Emperor Taishun showed leniency this time and did not confiscate all the property of the Rongguo Mansion.

He was a "confiscation emperor," often making sweeping confiscations without hesitation, and besides, he had long since grown disgusted with the Jia family.

The reason he showed such leniency this time was only secondary to the fact that he remembered the merits of the Rongguo Mansion's ancestors; the main reason lay in the phrase "the current situation."

The phrase "current situation" was rather vague, but all the princes and ministers present understood perfectly that it was because of Prince Yuan Yi and his wife Jia Yuanchun. If it weren't for this connection, given Emperor Taishun's style of doing things, he would probably have uprooted the entire Rongguo Mansion and confiscated it all today.

Once the emperor's decree was issued, none of the princes and ministers raised any further objections.

A case concerning the fate of the Rongguo Mansion was settled in the morning discussion at Danning Residence.

Emperor Taishun's actions not only severely punished the ringleaders and confiscated the Jia family's long-desired properties, but also preserved the main body of the Rongguo Mansion and took into account the newly returned prince Yuan Yi.

……

……

The sky was overcast that day, with gray clouds pressing down on the capital. Although no rain had fallen, the damp and stuffy atmosphere in the air foreshadowed a possible heavy rain that day.

After the morning imperial meeting ended, Lu Keduo, the Minister of Personnel and concurrently the Military Governor of the Capital Garrison, immediately boarded his carriage and hurriedly returned to the city, surrounded by a retinue of attendants.

Upon returning to the city, Lu Keduo acted swiftly and decisively, immediately dispatching the infantry battalion into two groups. One group, personally led by him, headed straight for the Rongguo Mansion on Ningrong Street to confiscate the property under the names of Jia She and Jia Lian; the other group, led by a trusted subordinate, went to the Jia family's eldest son's mansion where You Shi resided to carry out the confiscation order.

In an instant, the soldiers' armor gleamed, banners fluttered, and a chilling aura filled the air, startling the people of the western city of the capital into giving way and whispering among themselves, wondering which powerful official family was about to face disaster.

Lucodo led a large entourage to Ningrong Street.

At a single command, the soldiers, like wolves and tigers, quickly surrounded the vast Rongguo Mansion, isolating it from the outside world.

Immediately, Lukodo led his troops straight to the east courtyard where Madam Xing lived.

With a loud bang, the courtyard gate was violently kicked open.

Lu Keduo stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, his face cold and stern, and shouted sternly: "By imperial decree, the property of the criminal Jia She is to be confiscated. No one is allowed to obstruct this! Anyone who disobeys will be punished for defying an imperial decree!"

Before the words were even finished, the soldiers had already surged into each room like a tidal wave.

Madam Xing and her concubines and maids, dressed in fine silks and adorned with gold, silver, and jewels, as well as servants and old women like Wang Shanbao's wife, had never seen such a sight before. They were instantly terrified, and cries, screams, and pleas filled the air.

Driven and pushed by the ravenous soldiers, the women were huddled in a corner of the courtyard, trembling with fear. Their hairpins and ornaments fell to the ground, and their hair was disheveled. Their former wealth and elegance had turned them into lambs to the slaughter in an instant, filled with terror and humiliation.

Lu Keduo glanced at the gloomy sky, knowing that heavy rain was likely today. Moreover, this confiscation involved the properties of Jia She, Jia Lian, and You Shi, which were quite substantial. If they were to be inventoried on-site, it would not only be time-consuming but also prone to complications. He had already decided that it would be better to simply seal up all the chests, items, land deeds, account books, etc., and move them back to the yamen before inventorying them.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers of the infantry battalion acted as if they were bandits crossing the border, showing no regard for the consequences.

The sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets were incessant; the clanging of shattered porcelain, the tearing of roughly torn silk, and the scraping of floor tiles and the banging on walls clearly indicated suspicion of a hidden cellar. Precious antiques and paintings were carelessly tossed about, exquisite ornaments and utensils were reduced to fragments, and magnificent garments were trampled and dragged…

The scene was a complete mess, a truly horrific sight.

Lu Keduo stood in the courtyard, observing coldly, but secretly making plans in his heart.

He knew perfectly well that this lucrative task of confiscating property was the perfect opportunity to line his own pockets.

Yuan Yi had repeatedly confiscated property, yet he remained incorruptible and refused to accept a single penny. Lukodo considered this utterly absurd and laughable.

Is Lord Lu such a person?

He doesn't know how many rare treasures and valuables will be confiscated today, so he can take this opportunity to make a fortune!
He had already hinted to his trusted subordinates that if they encountered anything light and valuable, they should act accordingly and secretly intercept it.

Those fierce soldiers, quick as lightning, understood the unspoken message and swiftly slipped gold bracelets, jade pendants, pearls, gemstones, and other valuables into their pockets when no one was looking.

The entire search and seizure process was chaotic, with countless people taking advantage of the situation.

Madam Xing collapsed to the ground, watching helplessly as various valuables were roughly rummaged through, haphazardly stuffed into chests, sealed, or stolen by unsuspecting individuals. Her heart was breaking. At the same time, she felt both relieved and worried; she had hidden a great deal of valuables beforehand…

The entire east wing, and indeed the entire Rongguo Mansion, was shrouded in fear and chaos.

This once prosperous and influential family, a clan renowned for its scholars and poets, has now fallen to such a state of being at the mercy of others and trampled upon.

Beneath the dark clouds, the calamity befell the Rongguo Mansion with great force.

A barely perceptible, greedy smile occasionally flickered across Rukodo's seemingly dignified face.

(End of this chapter)