The Red Mansion

Chapter 288 Yingchun and her siblings, the You sisters

That afternoon, Yuan Yi personally escorted Lu Keduo to the side door next to the main hall of the Duke's mansion before turning around.

He did not return to "Lishenzhai," but stood outside the house and looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped and the sun shone on the wet roof tiles and courtyard, reflecting shimmering golden light. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees unique to the area after the rain.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked down the alley leading to the backyard.

After passing through several courtyards, they soon arrived at a quiet little courtyard, which was where Jia Yingchun was housed, next to Xing Xiuyan's elegant little courtyard.

Inside the main house in the courtyard, Yingchun sat by the window, gazing absently at a tree outside that had been washed by the rain and was now lush and green.

She was timid by nature, and recently, she had suffered a great upheaval in her family and was innocently implicated. Although she was taken in by Yuan Yi and spared the suffering of being displaced, she couldn't help but feel sad again when she thought about how the Rongguo Mansion's eldest branch had been destroyed in an instant, her biological father Jia She had suffered, and her elder brother Jia Lian had also suffered. She was now living under someone else's roof and her future was uncertain. Her eyes reddened and she secretly shed tears.

Siqi, the head maid standing to the side, also looked gloomy. Although she was strong-willed, she was deeply saddened by the fact that her maternal grandfather, Wang Shanbao, and maternal grandmother, Wang Shanbao's family, had both been severely punished for helping Madam Xing hide the family property. However, she was always tough and refused to show weakness in front of others. She suppressed her bitterness and silently tidied her dressing case.

The young maid Xiuju was still quite young, and seeing that both of her older sisters looked unwell, she dared not say anything more.

The atmosphere inside was rather somber.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard in the courtyard, and a maidservant guarding the gate hurriedly came in to report: "Miss, the Duke is here!"

Upon hearing the news, Yingchun hurriedly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, straightened her clothes, and, together with Siqi and Xiuju, quickly went to greet Yuan Yi under the eaves at the door. She saw that Yuan Yi had already entered the courtyard.

"Greetings to Fourth Master!" Yingchun, leading two maids, curtsied, her voice soft and tinged with timidity.

Yuan Yi walked closer, offered a helping hand, and looked at Yingchun's slightly red eyes, saying, "I was just passing by and came in to see if you're settling in well. If you need anything, just tell your older sister or come and tell me."

Yingchun said in a low voice, "Replying to Fourth Master, this place is very good. Thank you for your concern, Fourth Master."

Seeing her restraint, Yuan Yi softened his tone and comforted her, "Don't worry too much and add to your troubles. Since I have specially requested permission from the Emperor to bring you to my residence to be raised, I will treat you well. From now on, you can settle down here with peace of mind. Your daily expenses, food, clothing and living conditions will not be lacking."

He paused, and seeing that Yingchun was listening quietly, he continued, "If you are bored on ordinary days, you can find some entertainment. I heard that you are good at chess? It just so happens that Aunt Jing, who lives next door to you, also likes chess and is quite good at it. If you are interested, you can often ask her to play chess for entertainment."

He smiled slightly and said, "If the weather is clear tomorrow, I'll have your eldest sister invite the third sister Tanchun and the fourth sister Xichun from the Rong Mansion to come over so that you sisters can get together and have a chat, which will also keep you from feeling lonely."

These words were both caring and practical, demonstrating meticulous consideration.

Although Yingchun was gentle and weak-willed, she was not ungrateful. Hearing how thoughtful Yuan Yi was in thinking of her, a warm feeling welled up in her heart, dispelling some of her loneliness.

She quickly offered a deep bow, her voice soft and filled with genuine gratitude: "Thank you so much, Fourth Master... for going to such lengths to arrange things for me. I will always remember your kindness, Fourth Master and Eldest Sister."

Seeing Yuan Yi's gentle attitude and sincere words, Siqi and Xiuju, who were standing to the side, felt at ease.

Siqi thought to herself, "This Duke doesn't seem as cold as the rumors say. He seems to value old friendships and is willing to take responsibility. Perhaps it's better for you to live here than in the West Mansion, which is now a place of trouble..."

Yuan Yi stood for a few more moments, inquired about the details of Yingchun's daily life, and then left without further inquiring. He told Yingchun to rest well.

Welcoming Spring was seen off at the courtyard gate.

……

……

After leaving Yingchun's quiet courtyard, Yuan Yi did not turn back, but continued to walk deeper into the backyard of the Duke's mansion.

Passing through a moon gate guarded by servants, one enters another world. To the south of the moon gate lies the women's quarters, but the area to the north is quite different.

Before long, Yuan Yi arrived at a small courtyard, which was Jia Cong's residence. It was very close to his sister Yingchun's residence, but there were servants guarding the moon gate in between, so people could not come and go as they pleased.

As Yuan Yifang stepped into the courtyard, he heard a soft "whoosh" sound.

In the courtyard, Jia Cong was pursing his lips, intently drawing back a specially made small bow, and practicing shooting at a straw target not far away. Although his strength was insufficient and the arrow was crooked, his posture was quite impressive.

Granny Cheng watched from the side, her eyes filled with love and encouragement.

Also present were Hong Sheng's wife, Tong, and her son, Hong Yi, standing by his side. Hong Sheng was a guard in Yuan Yi's household. His son, Hong Yi, was about the same age as Jia Cong and wore the blue robes of a servant.

When Jia Cong saw Yuan Yi arrive suddenly, he quickly put down his small bow and stepped forward to greet him with a slightly restrained air.

Granny Cheng, along with Madam Tong and Hongyi, also stepped forward to pay their respects.

Madam Tong smiled apologetically and said, "The Duke has arrived. Please come inside and have a cup of tea."

Yuan Yi waved his hand and asked Granny Cheng, "Does Cong-ge'er usually like to practice martial arts?"

Granny Cheng replied respectfully, "In response to Your Highness, the young master does indeed enjoy playing with these bows, arrows, and clubs."

Yuan Yi nodded, then asked, "And what about your studies? Are you still putting in the effort?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Granny Cheng's face. Not daring to hide anything, she truthfully said, "Well... young master's interest in reading and writing is indeed not as great as his interest in martial arts..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yi's expression turned serious. He looked at Jia Cong and admonished him, "Cong-ge'er, it's a good thing that you like martial arts and want to improve your health. A man's ambition lies in all directions. In the future, you may have to fight on the battlefield or protect your country. Having martial arts skills is always a good thing."

Jia Cong listened attentively with his hands at his sides, his small face showing an expression of being taught.

Yuan Yi changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "However, you must know that in this world, one cannot succeed solely through brute force. Strategic planning requires wisdom; governing a region requires knowledge of literature; and even in interpersonal relationships, one must be well-educated and reasonable. If one only knows how to wield weapons and is ignorant of literature, then one is nothing but a brute. From today onward, in addition to practicing martial arts, you must also diligently study. Do you understand?"

Jia Cong understood the expectations and admonitions in Yuan Yi's words, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Highness, I remember, and I will study diligently." Seeing his respectful attitude, Yuan Yi's expression softened slightly, and he continued, "You should settle down here and study hard. In a few days, I will set up a special school, invite renowned teachers to instruct you in classics and history, and also arrange for skilled guards from my household to teach you archery and horsemanship. At that time, I will send you to the school."

He already had plans to choose a quiet courtyard to open a family school, hire a learned and honest Confucian scholar as the teacher, and select a reliable guard to teach martial arts. If granted permission, the sons of prominent officials and servants in the household could also enroll, which would facilitate centralized discipline and also cultivate some capable people for the future.

After instructing Jia Cong, Yuan Yi turned his gaze to Tong Shi and Hong Yi, and said solemnly, "Since you two have been sent here to serve Cong-ge'er, this is your duty. You must do your utmost and not be negligent or careless. Cong-ge'er is young, so you must take good care of him and guide him. If you do your job well, the manor will naturally remember your merits and reward or promote you accordingly. If you try to cheat or shirk your duties, you will not be let off lightly!"

His words, along with his cold gaze and tone, sent a chill down the spines of both Tong and Hongyi.

Madam Tong bowed and replied, "Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will do her utmost to serve Cong-ge'er well and will not dare to slack off!"

The boy Hongyi, also imitating his mother, replied in a muffled voice, "Yes, Your Highness!"

Yuan Yi said no more, glanced at Jia Cong again, and then turned and left the courtyard.

Jia Cong, along with Granny Cheng and others, respectfully saw them off at the courtyard gate.

Watching Yuan Yi's departing figure, Jia Cong recalled the admonition about studying earlier, and in his young heart, there seemed to be some vague expectations and plans for the future.

……

……

After leaving Jia Cong's courtyard, Yuan Yi continued walking along the bluestone path, heading deeper into the backyard.

Near the back gate of the mansion, there was a small, single-courtyard house, which was the residence arranged by Yuan Chun for Old Lady You, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You. To the south of this small courtyard, there was another, slightly larger, two-courtyard house, which was the residence of Lady You.

This arrangement is quite reasonable. Yuan Chun intended to protect the widow You Shi, who was in dire straits. As for the You family mother and daughter, with whom she had no prior dealings, providing them with a place to stay was already more than enough, so there was no need for excessive pampering.

After a hurried move this morning, the three members of the You family, along with the servants who came with them, had roughly arranged their belongings. The small courtyard had been simply swept and was clean and tidy, barely resembling a home.

At this moment, inside the main room, Madam You was talking with Old Madam You, Second Sister You, and Third Sister You.

Madam You looked worried and uneasy, while Old Madam You forced herself to speak words of comfort. Second Sister You listened quietly with her head down, while Third Sister You's bright eyes occasionally scanned the unfamiliar new environment.

Suddenly, Yuan Yi stepped in.

The four people inside were all startled and hurriedly got up to greet them.

"Greetings to the Duke." Madam You, along with her mother and two younger sisters, curtsied.

Yuan Yi nodded slightly and sat down in the chair at the head of the hall. His gaze swept over the four people in front of him. Madam You looked haggard, Old Madam You had a fawning expression, Second Sister You bowed her head gently, and Third Sister You looked up at him with girlish curiosity.

Old Lady You quickly seized the opportunity, nudged Second Sister You beside her, and whispered, "Second Sister, quickly pour tea for the Duke."

Sister You blushed slightly and stepped forward as instructed. She took a teapot from a nearby table, held it with her slender hands, and poured a cup of hot tea for Yuan Yi. Her movements were gentle, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Please have some tea, Your Highness."

She was in the prime of her youth, with a beautiful face and graceful figure. In addition, she spoke gently and acted demurely. With her head bowed and her eyes lowered, she had a charming and pitiful air about her.

Third Sister You was two years younger than Second Sister. Although she was also beautiful, she still had the demeanor of a young girl and was bolder and more lively than her older sister.

She sized up the legendary prince and duke before her. Although he wasn't wearing official robes, only a casual satin robe, his handsome bearing was undeniable. Sitting there with a calm expression, he possessed an air of authority that commanded respect without anger. She couldn't help but think to herself, "This gentleman doesn't seem like the typical spoiled brat... He's quite dashing and dignified!"

At this moment, Yuan Yi was not only marveling at the beauty of You Erjie and You Sanjie as described in the original novel, but also thinking that because of his appearance, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong in this world of Dream of the Red Chamber had suffered misfortune early on. You Erjie, who was still very young, was not impure because of this father and son. Even Jia Lian had suffered misfortune, so she would naturally not become Jia Lian's second wife. You Sanjie was even less impure.

Yuan Yi took the teacup but did not drink from it. He simply placed it beside him and said, "I have come here to tell you something. Just now, Lord Lukodoru came to my residence to see me."

Upon hearing the words "Lord Lukodoru," the expressions of the four members of the You family—mother and daughters—immediately tightened.

Yuan Yi continued, "He told me in person that everything that happened before was a misunderstanding. He promised that he would not make things difficult for your You family again. As for the 'sinful property' owed by the You family, he believes that the items you returned earlier have already fully offset the amount, and there is no need to pursue it further. This matter ends here."

Upon hearing this, Madam You and Old Lady You were overjoyed, as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders! Old Lady You repeatedly said, "Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for taking care of us! We will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

Lady You also expressed her gratitude.

Yuan Yi waved his hand, his expression indifferent: "In that case, regarding Lord Lu's previous entanglements with your family, whether it was through coercion or bribery, you must keep your mouth shut and not mention a word to anyone else. Let this matter go with the wind."

Knowing the implications, Madam You quickly replied, "This guilty woman understands and dares not speak nonsense outside, causing trouble for the Duke and the mansion."

Having explained the matter clearly, Yuan Yi did not linger. After sitting for a short while, he got up and left.

The four women, including Madam You, respectfully escorted him to the courtyard gate and watched his figure disappear before turning back.

Back inside, the initial joy gradually subsided. Madam You couldn't help but sigh, saying softly, "The immediate trouble is resolved, but... but what about the future? My mother, my two sisters, and even I are now dependent on others, living as guests in this mansion. In the long run, this isn't a sustainable solution..."

Old Lady You narrowed her worldly-wise eyes and pondered for a while. Seeing that there were no outsiders in the room, she lowered her voice and said to Madam You, "My son, you are right. We, mother and children, must have someone to rely on in the long term."

Her gaze swept across the faces of Second Sister You and Third Sister You, finally settling on Madam You's face: "If... if your second sister or third sister is fortunate enough to become a concubine of the Duke in the future... then we can not only live here for a long time legitimately, but also have a solid support, right?"

Old Lady You was a shrewd woman. She had only just moved into the Duke's mansion today and had just met Yuan Yi. Observing his demeanor and considering his power, she had already quickly started to make her own plans.

Upon hearing her stepmother's words, Madam You was slightly taken aback at first, then lowered her eyes and pondered silently. Although the idea was somewhat abrupt, it might not be a bad way out. Her second sister was gentle, and her third sister was clever. If they could truly win the favor of the Duke, it would be a good outcome for them, and for the You family, and for her own lonely and helpless elder sister, wouldn't it also mean finding a stable support?

(End of this chapter)