The Red Mansion

Chapter 280 Yuan Yi intervenes to rescue Yingchun

May 28th.

Lu Keduo led his infantry soldiers to ransack the Rongguo Mansion, acting swiftly and ruthlessly.

Having confirmed the serious crimes of Lady Xing and Yu Mei, a servant in Jia Lian's household, in "concealing official property and defying the court," he immediately ordered the arrest of Jia Lian, who was ashen-faced, and Yu Mei, who was trembling uncontrollably. Even Ying Chun, the timid, quiet, and unassuming illegitimate daughter of Jia She, was not spared and was taken to the chaotic Jia She courtyard to be held together with Lady Xing and other criminals, awaiting their fate.

The news spread like wildfire to Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia had been hoping the confiscation of the family fortune would end soon, but upon hearing this devastating news, she was utterly terrified. She had no idea that Madam Xing and that vixen Yu Mei had so audaciously concealed the family's wealth, committing such a colossal disaster! This was no longer something that could be resolved by confiscating a portion of the family's property; it was a catastrophe that could destroy the entire Rongguo Mansion!

At this critical juncture of life and death, Grandmother Jia disregarded all decorum and lamented in her heart, "No matter what, we must ask Yuan-chun to intervene and beg the Duke to save the Rongguo Mansion from its precarious state!"

She knew that the only person who could speak up for the Rongguo Mansion and salvage the situation was Yuan Yi next door. Without even changing her clothes, she hurriedly ordered a small sedan chair to be carried to her, and, trembling, climbed into it, rushing anxiously towards the neighboring Duke's mansion.

At this time, Yuan Yi was in the "Lishenzhai" and was listening to his master Lin Ruhai's lessons as usual.

Suddenly, Yuan Chun rushed in, looking flustered and embarrassed. Ignoring Lin Ruhai's presence, she said urgently, "Fourth Master, Mr. Lin, the old lady of the Rong family has rushed over, saying... saying something terrible has happened at the manor! Xing Shi and Yu Mei from Lian's room were caught red-handed by Lord Lu during the house raid for hiding family wealth. Now, Lian and Ying Chun are both detained. The old lady wants to see Fourth Master..."

After Yuan Chun finished speaking, her eyes were already red, both because she was worried about her family and because she felt that she had lost face in front of her husband and Lin Ruhai.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but exclaim, "Foolish! Truly foolish!"

As Jia Mu's son-in-law and a close friend of Jia Zheng, he naturally cared about the Rongguo Mansion. Seeing that Jia She's branch of the family was so unworthy, causing trouble one crime after another, he felt deeply sorry for them.

Yuan Yi remained calm, only his brows furrowed slightly. After a moment's thought, he instructed, "Please invite the old lady to the inner hall." He then stood up and said to Lin Ruhai, "Sir, please come and see her as well."

Yuan Yi, Yuan Chun, and Lin Ruhai arrived at the inner hall together. Not long after, Grandmother Jia, supported by Yuanyang, staggered in, her face pale.

Upon seeing Yuan Yi, Grandmother Jia disregarded Lin Ruhai's presence, pushed aside Yuanyang, and knelt down with a thud: "Your Excellency! Your humble servant... Your humble servant kowtows to you! I beg you to have mercy and save our Rong Mansion! That unruly child has caused such a terrible disaster... Now Lian'er and Er Ya have been arrested, and it seems our family is about to be destroyed!" As she spoke, she kowtowed.

Yuan Yi simply raised his hand slightly and said, "Get up, sit down and talk."

Yuan Chun helped Grandmother Jia up and helped her sit down on a chair.

After Grandmother Jia sat down, she recounted how Madam Xing and Yumei had hidden the family's wealth, how Lu Keduo had discovered it, and how Jia Lian and Yingchun had been detained. She pleaded, "Your Highness, Madam Xing and Yumei have brought this upon themselves; they deserve to die. I beg you... I beg you, for the sake of our past relationship and for Yuan Chun's sake, please find a way to protect our Rong Mansion and rescue Lian-ge'er and that poor maid Yingchun... They were truly innocent victims!"

After listening, Yuan Yi remained calm and said, "What Xing has done this time is tantamount to courting death! Although Jia Lian is not the mastermind, Yu Mei is his wife and the property he has hidden is under his name. He cannot escape blame. In addition, he is the eldest son of the disgraced official Jia She and is in the eye of the storm. Instead of avoiding suspicion, he has caused this incident, which is undoubtedly adding insult to injury!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia could only plead and beg.

Yuan Yi paused for a moment, then said, "Alright. I'll go to the manor now to see Lord Lu and find out the details. Whether things can be salvaged is still uncertain."

Upon hearing that Yuan Yi was willing to intervene, Grandmother Jia was overjoyed, as if a drowning person had grasped a piece of driftwood, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Excellency! I will wait here for news..."

Yuan Yi said no more, nodded slightly to Yuan Chun and Lin Ruhai, and without changing his clothes, left the inner hall and, with a few attendants, strolled to the east wing of the Rongguo Mansion next door.

The area around the east courtyard was already completely surrounded by soldiers from the infantry battalion, their swords and spears gleaming, creating a tense and deadly atmosphere.

Upon seeing Yuan Yi arrive, the gatekeepers hurriedly bowed and rushed inside to announce his arrival.

Soon, Lu Keduo personally came out to greet him. Although he now held two important positions, the Ministry of Personnel and the Beijing Garrison, and was extremely powerful and influential, he was not without pride. However, he dared not be negligent in front of Yuan Yi. He put on a smile, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets Your Excellency!" Although his tone was polite, it did not convey much respect. Rather, it reflected the shrewdness and caution of officialdom, knowing that it was not advisable to offend Yuan Yi.

Yuan Yi returned the greeting and smiled, saying, "Lord Lu is very busy with official duties, and I apologize for bothering you. I heard there have been some changes here, so I came to take a look."

Lu Keduo invited Yuan Yi into Jia She's study and then recounted the whole story in detail. He explained how the three judicial departments had "severely punished" Jia She, how Emperor Taishun had weighed the options at the imperial council, his final decision, and how he had personally supervised the confiscation of the family property, discovering that Madam Xing and Jia Lian's maid, Yu Mei, had dared to hide family wealth and defy the law…

He explained everything in detail.

Lu Keduo continued, “Your Highness, this matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative. There is a fear of heavy rain today, so I plan to first escort the confiscated property back to the yamen and carefully register it. The criminals from Jia She and Jia Lian’s households will be temporarily detained in this courtyard under strict guard. Tomorrow morning, I need to go to Changchun Garden to participate in the imperial meeting, where I will truthfully report the new developments of today to His Majesty and respectfully request His Majesty’s decision.”

After listening, Yuan Yi nodded: "Lord Lu upheld the law impartially and handled the matter properly. This matter concerns the laws of the court, so it should be reported to His Majesty truthfully and his decision should be respectfully requested."

His purpose in coming here was to ascertain the truth, not to interfere with the judiciary on the spot. Having achieved his goal, he said a few more words, then rose to take his leave.

As Yuan Yi walked out of the black-lacquered gate of Jia She's courtyard, heading back to his own residence next door, he suddenly saw several women standing outside the gate of the Duke's mansion. Leading them was a young woman dressed in plain clothes, her face veiled. Although her full features were obscured, the fear and unease in her expression were unmistakable; it was You Shi. Beside her were Jin Hua, Yu Lu's wife, and others, all with somber expressions.

As Lady You was feeling uneasy, she suddenly saw Yuan Yi walking from the direction of the Rongguo Mansion on the west side. She was startled at first, then hurriedly took a few steps forward and knelt down deeply in front of Yuan Yi: "This humble woman, Lady You, greets Your Excellency, and pays her respects to Your Excellency!"

Yuan Yi stopped, glanced at her, and said, "Get up."

Lady You thanked him and rose. Yuan Yi, feigning ignorance, asked, "Why are you here instead of at home?"

Lady You was even more nervous, her voice trembling: "Reporting to Your Excellency, my family was just attacked by soldiers who confiscated our property. I...I am terrified and helpless, so I have come to see you, Madam. I am waiting here for your permission..." As she spoke, her voice was already choked with sobs.

Yuan Yi understood. He had already learned from Lu Keduo that the property of the Jia family's eldest branch was also to be confiscated. Seeing You Shi's appearance, he knew that she was desperate and wanted to ask Yuan Chun, or even him, for help to find a way out.

He nodded slightly and said calmly, "Come in with me."

Lady You felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and quickly knelt down again, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency!"

She lowered her head and followed Yuan Yi cautiously into the imposing gates of the Duke's mansion.

The two large stone lions crouching outside the gate remained silent.

Yuan Yi led Madam You through a small door to the side of the main hall into the inner courtyard. Madam You had already removed her veil, revealing a pale and haggard face.

Yuan Chun, Grandmother Jia, Lin Ruhai, Yuanyang, and others were waiting under the eaves of the inner hall. When they saw Yuan Yi appear, followed by You Shi, Yuan Chun and Grandmother Jia were both taken aback, their eyes filled with surprise. Yuanyang was also surprised.

When Lady You suddenly saw that Grandmother Jia was also there, she felt extremely embarrassed. Since the deaths of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong, Grandmother Jia had become distant from her, and recently she had developed a considerable rift with the Rongguo Mansion. Meeting her in this situation was truly awkward.

Despite the awkwardness, propriety could not be disregarded. Madam You hurriedly stepped forward, first bowing deeply to Yuan Chun, then turning to Grandmother Jia, giving a slight curtsy, and whispering, "Greetings to the Old Madam."

Grandmother Jia only nodded slightly. At this moment, she was preoccupied with her own family's troubles and had no intention of saying much to Madam You.

Yuan Yi remained calm and led everyone into the inner hall. He and Yuan Chun naturally took their seats, and Grandmother Jia and Lin Ruhai also took their seats. Only You Shi, knowing her status and having come to ask for something, simply stood with her hands at her sides.

Unable to contain herself any longer, and disregarding the presence of Madam You, Grandmother Jia asked impatiently, "Your Highness, how did your meeting with Lord Lu go? Is there any... any chance of things turning around?"

Yuan Yi didn't answer Grandmother Jia directly, but looked at Yuan Chun: "I just went to see Lord Lu, and after inquiring in detail, I learned that this matter is more troublesome than expected. Originally, when Jia She committed a crime, the three judicial departments would severely punish him. Now, Xing Shi and the people in Jia Lian's household have become even more audacious, committing the serious crime of 'concealing official property and defying the court'! This is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire. The Rong Mansion has truly brought disaster upon itself this time!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia was terrified and pleaded in a tearful voice, "Your Highness! I beg you to think of a way! I... I know that the wicked child deserves to die, but... but we can't just watch our entire family fortune be destroyed! Please save us!"

Yuanyang, who was standing to the side, felt a strong sense of sorrow and grief when she saw the usually noble old ancestor in the Rongguo Mansion being so humble and pleading. At the same time, she felt an indescribable sense of awe towards Yuan Yi, who was sitting above her.

Seeing Yuan Chun's pale face and her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, Yuan Yi sighed inwardly and softened his tone, saying to her, "Don't be anxious. Now that things have come to this, I won't stand idly by. Today I will go to Changchun Garden to see the Emperor and plead for the Rong family, hoping to preserve the family's foundation. In addition, Yingchun and Jia Cong are still young and have no connection to this case; they are innocent victims. I will also plead with the Emperor to spare their lives. Saving Jia Cong will ensure that the Rong family's eldest branch of the family continues to thrive."

He paused slightly, then continued, "Of course, the will of Heaven is unpredictable, and this matter may not succeed. I can only say that I will do my best. If things don't go as planned in the end, don't blame me."

Yuan Chun felt both grateful and heartbroken. She quickly rose and gave Yuan Yi a deep bow. Tears welled up in her eyes and she said, "I... thank you so much, Fourth Master! Your kindness in going to such lengths is already an immense favor! Whether it succeeds or not, I and the Rong Mansion will always be grateful for your great kindness!"

She knew that at this critical juncture, Yuan Yi's willingness to intervene was already out of consideration for their marital relationship, and the people he protected were all reasonable, demonstrating his good intentions.

Grandmother Jia had been focused on protecting Jia Lian and Yingchun, and didn't care much about Jia Cong. Seeing Yuan Yi only mention Yingchun and Jia Cong, she felt a little disappointed, but she also understood that Yuan Yi had already done a great deal and she couldn't ask for more. She rose shakily and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Excellency, for saving my life!"

Yuan Yi said calmly, "You should go back and rest first, and wait for news."

Grandmother Jia was curious as to why Lady You had come, but since Yuan Yi had already told her to take her leave, she could not stay any longer and had to leave with Yuanyang's help.

After Grandmother Jia left, only Yuan Yi, Yuan Chun, Lin Ruhai, and You Shi remained in the hall.

Yuan Yifang said to Madam You, "Tell me your situation in detail, including the interrogation by the three judicial authorities and the confiscation of your property today."

Before she could speak, tears streamed down her face as she recounted in detail how she had been summoned and interrogated by the three judicial authorities, how Jia She had implicated her, and how soldiers had broken into her home and searched it today.

When the military officer claimed that she was "unfaithful and had embezzled the family property," and that Jia Qiang had "ruined the family," accusing the two of mismanaging the family property and causing trouble, he ordered the confiscation of their property to prevent future problems and eliminate the source of chaos. She was left with only a small amount of property to survive, and even her large house was to be confiscated. She wept uncontrollably, saying, "...Those ravenous soldiers looted my house completely! They didn't even leave me a place to stay...They ordered me to move out today. What am I supposed to do?"

Yuan Chun was shocked and furious upon hearing this. She cursed Jia She in her heart for being utterly hateful. He had committed many sins, and even on his deathbed, he still tried to implicate You Shi and Jia Qiang, causing the eldest branch of the Jia family to suffer such a fate!
Yuan Yi said to Yuan Chun, "The imperial decree has been issued regarding her situation, and there is no turning back. The most urgent task is to find a place to settle her down."

Yuan Chun nodded, suppressing her inner turmoil, and said softly to Yuan Yi, "Fourth Master, there are a few vacant courtyards in the backyard of our mansion. Could we temporarily allocate one for her to settle down? It's better than her being homeless."

Yuan-chun's words were deeply meaningful. You-shi had suffered a terrible fate, accused of a heinous crime, losing all her family fortune, and her reputation was ruined both within the Jia clan and in society. Yuan-chun's previous promise to protect You-shi, at least to prevent her from being expelled from the Jia family, and to place her in her own household, was both a timely act of kindness, temporarily alleviating her immediate crisis, and a powerful form of protection.

Yuan Yi nodded: "As you wish."

Despite her deep resentment and disappointment, Lady You hurriedly kowtowed to Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun, saying, "Your Excellency, Madam, your kindness is immense! I will never forget it!"

Outside the window, dark clouds gathered, and a downpour seemed inevitable.

(End of this chapter)