The Red Mansion.

Chapter 48 Aunt Xue Enters Rongguo Mansion

There once were a pair of brothers named Jia Yan and Jia Yuan.

The two brothers followed the Taizu of Daqing in conquering the world, both made great military achievements, and both became dukes among the "Four Kings and Eight Dukes" of the founding of the country. Jia Yan was the Duke of Ning, and Jia Yuan was the Duke of Rong.

In the western part of Shenjing City, there's a small street called Ningrong Street. While it might be called a small street, it's actually more like a large alley. Paved with bluestone, it lacks any shops, but instead features two imposing residences of the founding dukes. To the east of the street stands the Ningguo Mansion, while to the west stands the Rongguo Mansion, collectively known as the "Jia Mansion."

At this time, Aunt Xue took a sedan chair to Ningrong Street, first passed by the gate of Ningguo Mansion, and then came to the gate of Rongguo Mansion.

There were two big stone lions squatting outside the gate of Rongguo Mansion, looking very majestic. The vermilion lacquered gate was inlaid with gilded copper nails. A plaque was hung above the main gate with five big characters "Rongguo Mansion Built by Imperial Order" written on it.

There were several servants guarding the gate.

When the gatekeeper learned who the visitor was, he went inside to report and was then ordered to let him in.

Aunt Xue rode in a sedan chair and entered the Rongguo Mansion through the west corner gate.

Mrs. Wang went to the second gate of the inner house to greet them, leading Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, Lin Daiyu, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, Jia Xichun and all the maids, wives and old women.

Among them, Li Wan is dressed in plain clothes and skirt, with a dignified face and elegant makeup.

Wang Xifeng was slim, with a pair of triangular eyes and two curved willow-leaf eyebrows, and was dressed in colorful embroidery.

Lin Daiyu is like a weak willow, with two curved eyebrows that seem to be frowning but not frowning, and a pair of dewy eyes that seem to be happy but not happy.

Jia Yingchun had slightly plump skin, a medium build, cheeks as red as fresh litchis, and a nose as smooth as goose fat.

Jia Tanchun has thin shoulders and waist, a tall and slender figure, an oval face, beautiful eyes and thin eyebrows.

Jia Xichun was still young, with a pretty face and a bit of childishness between her eyebrows.

Mrs. Wang and her sister, Aunt Xue, had not seen each other for a long time. When they met again today, Mrs. Wang was filled with mixed feelings of sadness and joy. As soon as they met, she took Aunt Xue's hand, tears in her eyes, and her voice choked with sobs: "Sister, you are finally here!"

Aunt Xue forced a smile, but she was not really happy and had no intention of chatting with Mrs. Wang.

After entering the room, Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue sat down on the large kang by the window and asked gently, "Why didn't Bao come with you this time?"

Aunt Xue's expression faltered slightly, a look of embarrassment between her brows. She whispered to Madam Wang, "I have something confidential to tell you alone. Could you please send everyone away?"

Mrs. Wang understood and said to the crowd, "Please leave and let us have a private conversation."

Li Wan, Lin Daiyu, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, Jia Xichun and others hurriedly took their leave respectfully.

Wang Xifeng, however, raised her willow-leaf eyebrows and smiled at Aunt Xue, saying, "Aunt, why are you keeping it so secret? You can't even let me, your niece, know about it. It's so rare to see you here, and I'm so happy. But after all, she's just a niece born from the womb, and she can't be as intimate as a sister born from the womb."

Mrs. Wang and Aunt Xue are both Wang Xifeng's aunts. Moreover, Wang Xifeng is versatile, smart and capable, and is loved by Mrs. Wang.

Mrs. Wang was amused by Wang Xifeng's words, but when she saw that Aunt Xue was not amused but rather embarrassed, she said to Wang Xifeng, "Your aunt has something secret to tell me. Please leave."

Only then did Wang Xifeng stop laughing and leave.

The only sisters left in the room were Lady Wang and Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue immediately recounted the events of the Xue family, Wang Ziteng, and Jiang Nian in detail. Lady Wang was horrified and filled with fear. She had never imagined the Xue family would cause such a catastrophe. Not only had Xue Baochai become a concubine, but their position as imperial merchant was also in jeopardy. Furthermore, Wang Ziteng was demoted from governor of the Beijing camp to general, and even Qin Ye, Jia Zheng's colleague and close friend, was killed...

Aunt Xue's eyes welled up with tears, and she pleaded with Madam Wang in a trembling voice, "Sister, the Xue family is powerless to reverse this disaster, and even my brother is powerless. I can only ask for your help to protect our Xue family's position as the royal merchant. Otherwise, the Xue family will be in great trouble, and I will be truly ashamed of my late husband!"

Madam Wang frowned, her face grimacing. She sighed, "This disaster has alarmed even the Supreme Emperor and His Majesty. My brother has been demoted and is powerless to help. How can I...how can I help?"

Aunt Xue choked up and said, "Bao's uncle... can't he help?"

Mrs. Wang smiled bitterly and shook her head: "He...is not capable of that."

Aunt Xue asked again, "Can we ask the old lady for help?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang thought to herself, "You were born into the Wang family, but married into the Xue family. Now you're asking the old lady of the Jia family for help in such a disaster. It's a bit ridiculous."

However, Lady Wang had always cared about her family, and she and Aunt Xue had a deep sisterly bond. Seeing Aunt Xue's miserable state, she could not bear to refuse. She could only sigh and say, "Well, I will take you to see the old lady, and you can explain the whole matter to her. As for whether she is willing to help, or even if she can, I don't know."

Aunt Xue nodded repeatedly, wiped away her tears, and went to Lady Jia's courtyard with Mrs. Wang.

Located west of the inner courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion, Jia Mu's Courtyard served as her daily residence. The main house, Rongqing Hall, boasted five rooms, decorated with carved beams and painted rafters. Flanking the side rooms were adorned with verandas and painted pavilions, each displaying a variety of birds, including parrots and thrushes.

The main hall of Rongqing Hall is elegantly furnished. A painting of a pine and crane hangs in the center, flanked by couplets reading, "May your blessings be as vast as the long-flowing waters of the East Sea, and your longevity be as great as the evergreen pines of the Southern Mountains." A brocade carpet covers the floor, and a bronze incense burner stands in one corner, its incense curling and fragrant. Antiques and jades, all rare and valuable, radiate an air of wealth and opulence on the tables in front of the hall.

At this time, there were only three people in the hall: Lady Jia, Lady Wang, and Aunt Xue.

Jia's mother was reclining on the couch. She was over sixty, her hair graying, her face wrinkled, but she was energetic and kind. She wore a jeweled headband, a crimson brocade gown, and a jacket embroidered with golden phoenixes. In her hand, she gently plucked a string of sandalwood Buddhist beads.

Aunt Xue was telling Lady Jia about the affairs of the Xue family, Wang Ziteng, and Jiang Nian. Her expression was distraught, her words were mournful, and tears streamed down her face.

After hearing this, Jia's mother was also shocked and said in panic, "How could this happen! How could this happen!"

Wang Ziteng has a very close relationship with the Rongguo Mansion, but it is not just a relationship based on marriage.

Back then, it was Jia Mu's husband, Jia Daishan, who recommended Wang Ziteng as an imperial guard to Emperor Jingning. Wang Ziteng's promotion to the position of Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp was also due to the strong support of the Jia family. Jia Daihua of the Ningguo Mansion also served as Jiedushi of the Beijing Camp.

In recent years, Wang Ziteng has become the Jia family's backer.

Now that Wang Ziteng has been demoted to general, it will also have an impact on the Jia family.

Seeing Lady Jia's panic, Aunt Xue became even more uneasy. She looked at Lady Wang with a sad look, as if asking for help.

Seeing this, although Mrs. Wang knew that the matter was difficult, she couldn't bear to see her sister in such distress. However, she didn't dare to ask Lady Jia for help directly. She said tactfully, "Old Madam, if the Xue family loses its position as the imperial merchant, it will be a cause of great concern."

Grandmother Jia had seen through Lady Wang and Aunt Xue's requests for help and sighed, "If it were any other matter, our household might be able to help. But this disaster is truly of such magnitude that even the two emperors have been alarmed, and your brother has been demoted. There's nothing our household can do to help!"

In fact, Jia Mu felt that with her status as the wife of a first-rank duke and the deep friendship between her late husband Jia Daishan and Emperor Jingning, if she had the audacity to ask the retired Emperor Jingning for help, she might be able to protect the Xue family's position as royal merchant.

But she didn't want to do this...

(End of this chapter)