Chapter 406: Xi Ren Driven Out?

After briefly briefing Jia Zheng on some matters, Jia Jing left the ancestral hall courtyard, intending to first return to Jingming Hall, make some preparations, and then set off directly for the Twelfth Tuan Camp.

By then the sun had already climbed onto the eaves of the various courtyards of the East Residence, bleaching the blue tiles to a pale white.

Jia Jing walked east along the stone‑slab corridor, admiring the summer scenery within the mansion, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

He saw the pink walls on both sides warmed slightly by the sunlight, the moss at their bases withered, clinging to the brick joints like dry ink lines.

The bamboo curtains hanging in the corridor were half‑rolled; wind slipped in from beneath them, bringing a faint, fleeting coolness, but before he could savor it, the coolness dampened his face and was quickly swallowed by the heat.

A few cicadas hid behind the locust leaves, stretching their calls as if keeping time for the stifling morning.

Jia Jing leisurely turned the corner of the corridor and suddenly saw a woman of graceful, slender figure in a dark‑green dress standing in the shadow beside the stone steps.

The woman lowered her head, a trace of melancholy on her face, as if pondering something, or perhaps merely pausing to rest.

Hearing footsteps, the woman abruptly lifted her face; her fair, pure complexion, caught between sun and shade, appeared especially soft, her brows and eyes curved.

When she saw Jia Jing, her jade‑white face instantly lit with joy; she stepped forward a few paces and said politely:

"Greetings, Lord Guogong!"

Seeing the smiling girl stride quickly toward him, Jia Jing furrowed his brows, and with a hint of doubt asked:

"Ping'er? Why are you here? Did Second Sister‑in‑law send you to find me?"

It wasn't surprising that Ping'er could come to the East Residence!

Apart from the strictly guarded main courtyard, the East Residence placed few restrictions on people from the West Residence elsewhere.

The two residences share connected gates; although Jia Jing dispatched personal guards as covert sentries, passage was not prohibited.

After all, places like Hui Fang Yuan in the East Residence are scenic and popular spots for the young ladies to stroll and sightsee.

Yet Ping'er was clearly waiting for him here; unless Wang Xifeng assigned her, her temperament would not have led her to do so!

Ping'er was pretty and delicate, flower‑like, with a gentle and dignified bearing; hearing Jia Jing's question, she smiled warmly and replied softly:

"Grandma has prepared sour plum tea in the pavilion ahead, saying it's hot today and that Lord Guogong has been holding the clan meeting for so long; she fears his throat may be dry, and invites you to rest a while."

"She has come to the East Residence several times lately, yet has not seen Lord Guogong; she has a few words she wishes to say to you in person."

Ping'er phrased her words just right; she did not say 'request an audience' nor claim 'something urgent',

only that 'she has a few words she wishes to say in person', and added that she had already come to the East Residence many times, which made her seem both familiar and sincere.

Moreover, it must be said that,

since Jia Jing returned to the mansion from the northwest, Feng Jie has indeed visited the East Residence several times.

Yet whether Jia Jing was busy with official duties or absent from the residence, she never got a chance to meet him.

This time, perhaps after learning of the clan meeting, she deliberately set out to block his path!

Jia Jing glanced at Ping'er, of lovely character and fragrant heart, pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly and said:

"If that's the case, go see Second Sister‑in‑law then!"

Feng Jie has been actively trying to get close to him, which Jia Jing is well aware of.

For example, her remarks yesterday after Jia Baoyu broke the jade showed great insight and resolve, and she also intervened in the matters of Keqing and Yuan Chun.

In addition, she has been assisting the steward in supporting Tan Chun a lot lately, and has done quite well.

Thinking of all these, Jia Jing agreed to pay a visit.

Thus, the two walked along the red‑railed promenade; Jia Jing, while walking, looked at the graceful Ping'er and casually asked:

"Just now, when I saw you standing there with a hint of sorrow between your brows, did something trouble you?"

Ping'er was startled by his words; she hadn't expected Jia Jing's observation to be so meticulous, nor that he would ask a maid's matter so kindly!

After a moment's thought, Ping'er chose her words and said softly:

"It's just some maid‑related matters; I'm not sure whether I should speak of them!"

Jia Jing frowned, stared at Ping'er, and said nothing.

Ping'er seemed scorched by Jia Jing's sharp gaze and, instinctively, whispered:

"It's not my business, it's Xi Ren and the others!"

Jia Jing was slightly surprised, looked away, and asked:

"Xi Ren? Who are they?"

Ping'er's ears flushed slightly as she gently explained:

"Because yesterday Second Master Baoyu smashed the jade and caused such a huge commotion, even 'the lifeline' was shattered, Madam sent someone to Second Master Baoyu's courtyard this morning."

"She said it was Xi Ren and a few other senior maids who failed to look after him properly."

"She also claimed their flirtatious natures had corrupted the masters, bringing misfortune to Baoyu, and that they should all be driven out of the mansion!"

【48】 "Xi Ren and the others are now packing their belongings; their service contracts are in Second Madam's hands, and this matter… even Grandma and Third Miss find it hard to intervene!"

Jia Jing glanced at the refined Ping'er, pondered briefly, and lightly nodded:

Jia Jing furrowed his brows and, unable to restrain a cold tone, said:

"Wang is once again venting on the maids, unable to settle down for a moment…"

It should be noted that there are nearly twenty maids in Baoyu's courtyard, including eight senior maids!

Although Qingwen is gone, Jia Mu assigned another, bringing the total back to eight!

If all eight senior maids were expelled, their fates would hardly be good!

Looking at the outcomes of Jin Chuan'er and Qingwen in the original work shows that, in a great household like the Jia Mansion, being "driven out" is almost equivalent to a death sentence for maids.

Because being "driven out" is not the same as being "released".

"Release" means the slave status is cancelled and freedom restored; "drive out" merely expels them from the master's side while their slave status remains.

This means they are still legally the Jia Mansion's property, without legitimate identity, unable to leave or find shelter.

As "owned" slaves, no other respectable occupation would accept them.

For example, Jin Chuan'er, being a household‑born child, after being driven out could only return to her parents and endure familial pressure and coldness.

Qingwen, handed over to an incompetent cousin and sister‑in‑law, received no proper care and eventually fell gravely ill and died.

More importantly, the charge of being "driven out" is often something extremely disgraceful like "improper conduct".

Such stigma will follow one for life, and the heavy pressure of public opinion is enough to destroy a person's will to live.

And once a reputation is ruined, what is taken away is not just a job, but also their dignity and future.

So, as long as Xi Ren and others are driven out under charges such as "leading the guys astray" or "bringing bad luck", even if they have a parental home to take refuge in, the rest of their lives are basically over.

And those who have no parental or relatives' home to take refuge in are basically not far from death!