Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Fenzhu was like a dancing butterfly, flying to Jia Lian as she wished and becoming his personal maid. However, her wish was as fragile as the glass, and she failed to become a concubine. Jia Zheng's reputation was like a flower destroyed by the wind, and was completely ruined because of this incident.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another three years had passed. The years flew by, and many things happened during this time, but none of them had anything to do with the Jia family. The retired emperor was nearing death, his life in danger, and he could die at any moment. Lin Ruhai in Suzhou received a secret letter from the current emperor, demanding that he submit evidence of the crimes of the Zhen family and the Eight Princes' gang as soon as possible. Lin Ruhai knew the weight of this matter, and that mishandling it would have serious consequences. Therefore, without delay, he immediately began to compile the evidence.

However, things weren't all smooth sailing. When Jia Yucun arrived at the Wang family residence in Suzhou to find Wang Zisheng, he keenly sensed something was amiss and a foreboding premonition welled up within him. He decisively decided to escape through the back door to avoid further entrapment. Coincidentally, shortly after escaping the Wang family, he ran into Zhen Yuandao on the road. From then on, he began to engage in a series of heinous acts for the Zhen family, becoming their accomplice.

This time, the Zhen family received an important letter from Concubine Zhen in the palace. The letter read: "Brother, this letter is like seeing the person. The retired emperor is increasingly frail and nearing death, while the new emperor has firmly established himself on the throne. I urge you to act with caution and for the future. Lin Ruhai must not be allowed to remain, as he holds evidence of our embezzlement of salt taxes and selling of official positions." This letter plunged the Zhen family into extreme tension and panic. They realized the severity of the situation and needed to take action to save their lives.

Master Zhen, the head of the Zhen family, and Jia Yucun sat on opposite sides of a chessboard, where black and white pieces intertwined, creating a complex situation. Master Zhen, holding the black piece, pondered for a moment before placing a move. He then looked up at Jia Yucun and said slowly, "Shi Fei, how much do you know about Lin Ruhai?"

Jia Yucun replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, Lin Ruhai was born into a family of wealth and scholarship, his ancestors descended from hereditary marquises. He was a former top scholar in the imperial examination, served as a doctor at the Lantai Temple, and was later appointed as the Imperial Censor of the Salt Administration in Yangzhou. He is a man of great talent and profound knowledge, and he is deeply trusted by the Emperor."

Zhen Youdao frowned slightly after hearing this and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "You know that's not what I'm asking. The retired emperor is in increasingly poor health. Lin Ruhai, as the Imperial Inspector of Salt and a close confidant of the current emperor, holds a lot of evidence against us. If he returns to the capital, we'll probably face catastrophic consequences."

Jia Yucun was silent for a moment, pondering a response. After a moment, a sly glint flashed in his eyes, and he said, "Sir, it's indeed difficult for us to deal with Lin Ruhai directly, but he also has a weak spot. I heard that he is extremely fond of his wife, Wang Xifeng. Why don't we seize this opportunity to kidnap his wife and use it to threaten Lin Ruhai?" Zhen Youdao's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he saw a glimmer of hope, but soon turned deep, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he was pondering something important. He whispered, "This is indeed a feasible method, but Lin Ruhai is not the kind of person who compromises easily. Moreover, if the matter is exposed, we may face greater difficulties and dangers."

Jia Yucun quickly responded, "Don't worry, sir. As long as we plan carefully, we will succeed. We can send reliable personnel to secretly monitor the Lin Mansion and wait for the right time to strike. At the same time, we must also prepare a hiding place in advance to ensure that everything is safe."

Zhen Youdao nodded slightly in agreement. "Well, this matter must be handled with extreme caution and without the slightest negligence. You go and arrange the relevant matters, but be sure not to let anyone know we're involved."

Jia Yucun replied respectfully: "Yes, sir. I will take personal charge of this matter and ensure that no mistakes occur to your satisfaction." After that, he stood up, said goodbye and left, secretly thinking about how to implement this plan.