Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 425: One Moment Before the House Raid

Let’s talk about Rongguo Mansion.

Two hours ago.

The carriage quietly left the Jinshui Bridge and turned into the street. Wang Xifeng's voice came out softly but sternly: "Hurry up! There's no one on the street. Go faster!"

The driver also realized something was wrong, and he whipped the horse hard on its buttocks and galloped all the way to the gate of the mansion.

While in the car, Wang Xifeng had already whispered to Ping'er, who was so frightened that she was trembling all over and her face turned pale, and she lost her voice: "Search the house——"

Wang Xifeng covered her mouth fiercely and said, "Shut up!"

"Can what grandma said be confirmed?" Ping'er almost collapsed in the carriage.

Wang Xifeng nodded calmly: "It can't be wrong."

"Then, then do you want to..." Ping'er hurriedly leaned over and asked breathlessly, "Tell our family?"

"It's too late." Wang Xifeng looked wooden and lowered her eyes, "If I dare to send someone to the Wang family to inform them now, then everything I did before will be wiped out.

"The Wang family, my late aunt, Aunt Xue, and Master Lian, all of these accounts can be linked to me."

Wang Xifeng raised her eyes and looked straight at Ping'er, "As long as I'm involved, then Qiaojie, you, and Feng'er, no one can escape the Jiaofangsi."

Ping'er shuddered at these words and could say nothing.

Follow the authority in urgent matters.

The carriage drove straight in, from the corner gate all the way to the second gate.

With Ping'er's help, Wang Xifeng jumped out of the carriage, picked up her skirt and ran inside, whispering to Ping'er:

“Go and invite all the masters to gather in the old lady’s room!

"Then go back and quickly hide our largest banknotes close to your skin!

“Prepare some more ordinary clothes!

"Pack up the rest of the jewelry, gold, jade, etc., and take them away if you can. If you can't take them away, give them to the soldiers who come to search the house!

"Remember to protect yourself!"

When they reached the fork in the road, Ping'er turned around and ran to ask for help, while Wang Xifeng ran into Lady Jia's courtyard.

Wang Xifeng knelt before Lady Jia's bed and reported everything that had happened in the palace, even telling the truth about the letter she had secretly handed over without telling her family:

“…After drinking, the county lady told me that His Majesty sent Master Zhitong here because he was unwilling to let our family escape unscathed!

"Now that we can use this letter as an excuse, we can raid the other mansions as well. This will give us a little leniency. We can only arrest the adult men and let us women and children go back to Nanjing!"

Grandmother Jia put her hand over her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes: "I understand! These words, once they come out of your mouth and enter my ears, no one else will say them again.

"Otherwise, you'll never sleep peacefully in your life!"

Wang Xifeng was originally testing Lady Jia's attitude. Seeing her like this, she was finally relieved. She cried and hugged Lady Jia's waist, whispering:

"Don't worry. I went to say goodbye to the princess in the morning. When I was waiting outside, Xiaohong from Lin Zhixiao's family secretly told me:

"The Emperor has also let Baoyu go! He is now going to Daming Palace to say goodbye to the Empress and will be back soon!

"The Emperor has also issued an order to have Baoyu serve you as you return to Jinling to retire!"

Grandmother Jia felt relieved, dizzy and dazed, and lay down on Wang Xifeng's hand: "That's good..."

As they were talking, a group of masters outside had hurried over for unknown reasons, and the room was filled with women inside and men outside.

Jia's mother leaned on the couch and pointed at Wang Xifeng wearily, "You go ahead and talk."

Wang Xifeng then cried and repeated the news that the family was about to be confiscated: "...His Majesty is furious, and the one leading the team today is the most trusted guard commander.

"If anyone disobeys and escapes, he might be killed on the spot."

Everyone gasped!

The women burst into tears immediately, and Jia She even closed his eyes and fainted!

Jia Lin and Jia Lang, who were the calmest, looked at each other and hurriedly ordered someone to call the imperial physician.

Li Wan couldn't help crying and complaining: "Why are you putting on so much airs and hiring an imperial physician? Don't you think your crime is not serious enough?"

Madam Xing was so angry that she spat in his face: "Why don't you invite the imperial physician before the door is sealed? Do you want to watch the old lady feel uncomfortable and watch our master die?

"Your son has been sent to the palace, and you are standing here talking without any pain in your waist!"

Wang Xifeng hurriedly helped Mrs. Xing up, and first ordered Jia Lin and Jia Lang to go out to help, and then she wiped her tears and advised:

"Madam and sister-in-law, please don't get angry yet. According to the news from the palace, I'm afraid that even the dowries of the female relatives will not be left.

“After things calm down, we all have to go back to our hometowns, and then we’ll probably have to rely on our clan.

"Brother Lin and Master Lang only came here to help, and their stay was short, so they might be released without charge.

"When we get back, we'll still have to count on their help. It's really hard to offend them nowadays."

Li Wan was speechless and could only lower her head and cry without saying anything else.

Grandmother Jia glanced at her with disappointment, then beckoned Mrs. Xing to sit beside her, patted her hands, and ordered:

"Before the soldiers arrive, go back to your rooms and clean up your house. Even if they confiscate your property, don't let them laugh at you."

Everyone agreed in a noisy manner and walked out with weak legs. Jia Zheng, especially, was anxious and panicked. He held Caiyun's hand and ran back desperately!

Li Wan waited patiently for the men outside to leave, and then she did not follow the etiquette and waited for Madam Xing to come out, and she walked out quickly on her own.

"Madam, please stand still for a moment. I have something to tell you." Grandmother Jia held Madam Xing still and looked at Wang Xifeng, "Feng girl, take your fourth sister with you and stay here with me. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

Mrs. Xing had no choice but to stay.

Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Grandmother Jia motioned for Humber to bring her money box.

He opened it, took out two silver notes of ten thousand taels and gave them to Xichun, and whispered, "Hide them close to your body!

"The Emperor will give face to Lin and the third girl and will not embarrass you. This is your grandmother's dowry for you for the rest of your life!"

Xichun cried and shook her head.

Wang Xifeng stuffed it into her arms and whispered, "Why are you wasting time? Hurry up! Hide now, right here!"

As he spoke, he deftly found a suitable position for her.

Grandmother Jia heaved a sigh of relief and gave another 20,000 taels to Mrs. Xing: "Hide it well too. I won't say anything else. This family will depend on you and Feng'er in the future!"

Mrs. Xing knelt down crying, took the banknote with both hands, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"These two are for you, one for you and one for your sister Yuanyang." Grandmother Jia touched Amber's head and whispered lovingly,

"Just be careful and don't spend money recklessly in the future. If people find out you have money, they will harm you."

Amber did not say anything. She took the banknote and stuffed it into the waist of her underwear. She wiped away her tears, reached out and took another banknote from the box and put it in Jia's mother's arms.

Grandmother Jia squeezed her hand, smiled and shook her head.

"This one is for your second grandmother."

Wang Xifeng looked at the few pieces of paper left in the box and shook her head, "You can't take any more. If you take any more, there won't be enough left in your box.

"The officers and soldiers are suspicious and will conduct a thorough investigation. No one will be able to escape and it will cause a lot of trouble. No way."