Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1152 The Xue Family Arrives with Good News
Inside the main hall of the Li family
The atmosphere was utterly silent. Inside the room, the Li family father and son sat facing each other, with only an old steward serving them. As the father and son talked, they moved from matters in the palace to the Jiangnan region.

This land, rich and prosperous for generations, should not be allowed to be defiled by others.

Grand Secretary Li chuckled and shook his head. Land taxes were easy to obtain, but there was another matter: the capital's purse strings. The Suzhou Textile Bureau, which had already been converted to use new looms, was a veritable treasure trove. If this could not be secured, Wang Shuyi's trip to Jiangnan would be a waste of time.

“You’re oversimplifying things. Those land taxes are the least important matters. Your senior brother has three things to do in Jiangnan: first, to stabilize the officialdom there; second, to stabilize land taxes; and third, to get the textile bureau moving. So, the conversion of farmland to mulberry fields still needs to be done, following the path of Chunyang County. If your senior brother doesn’t raise the money, he won’t be able to hold this position for long. Therefore, I’ve also secured him a position to control the textile bureau. If Shen Wanhe is smart, he’ll know what to do.”

Thinking of the deficits in the Ministry of Revenue, it was shocking. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, he had not even made up for the deficits incurred during the reign of the retired emperor Tianbao. Therefore, the most urgent task was to raise funds for the court, for the emperor, and even for the retired emperor.

"This is indeed a bit difficult. I think you should be able to handle it, senior brother. If it really doesn't work, I will also help you. But just now, there was something going on in the palace."

Li Chaosheng pointed in the direction of the palace, slightly hesitant. His gentleman's agreement with Marquis Luoyun to plant mulberry leaves and raise silkworms outside the pass to prepare raw silk was for the Suzhou Weaving Bureau. No matter how it was done, it would be extremely profitable.

"It's not time for things to change in the palace yet. What you need to do is win over those people from outside the palace. As for the matter of the Ministry of Justice's sentencing you mentioned, it's nothing more than a death sentence. Whether it's reviewed or not is irrelevant. What's important is when the execution will take place. If the execution is carried out in the autumn, there's still room for maneuver. The Emperor Emeritus values ​​reputation the most. This time, that Chief Clerk Xu did something that no one else in the world dared to do, so he will surely be remembered in history. Therefore, this matter still has time to be dealt with. It's a pity that the people in the Directorate of Ceremonial are too impatient."

Grand Secretary Li shook his head, looking regretful. If it were a power struggle between the Cabinet and the Directorate of Ceremonial, it would be a good thing. It would allow them to win over those wavering among the civil officials and use the Directorate of Ceremonial's power grab as an excuse to win people's hearts. Unfortunately, those eunuchs in the Directorate of Ceremonial couldn't hold back. A slow and steady approach would be more beneficial to both sides.

If we act too hastily, it will inevitably cause turmoil in the court. If we rush into the fray, it will be difficult to guarantee that those people are sincere or not.

"Father is absolutely right. Then, what is Father's meaning this time?"

Li Chaosheng's mind was in turmoil. He didn't have many people at his disposal. Even if he recruited them, they would all be young, insignificant officials who were utterly useless.

"What do you mean? Figure it out yourself. You know the people in the cabinet, and you know the people in the Directorate of Ceremonial. If you want to play chess, you should have the aura of a chess player. Go."

Chief Minister Li waved his hand, and although the eldest son, Li Chaosheng, was still confused, he stood up, bowed, and left the main hall.

Several presiding judges in the capital received the news, packed their things, and, accompanied by their servants, traveled there by carriage.

Rongguo Mansion
After returning from the Marquis of Luoyun's residence, Wenxing went straight to Pear Fragrance Garden. Upon seeing her young mistress, she quickly said...

"Miss, Miss, when I met the Marquis, I told him about these things. The Marquis has already nodded in agreement. He also said that since we are buying official positions, we should not be stingy. We can just buy a fifth-rank official position and fill the vacancy with a sixth-rank official."

They spoke in a hurry. After entering Ningrong Street, Wenxing did not dare to delay. Afraid of attracting attention by going through the front gate, she went into the alley and returned through the side gate of Lixiangyuan, so she was much faster.

West room of the main hall

Xue Baochai was looking at a picture book she used to read in her spare time, flipping through a page idly. When she heard the words coming from the outer room, a shrewd look flashed in her beautiful eyes. It seemed that since the Marquis had agreed, it meant that the place in the Military Command was relatively stable, and her brother was finally settled. But why was the official position he bought higher? What was the reason for that?

Seeing Wenxing walk in, a bead of sweat still clinging to her hair, he beckoned her to sit down and said...

"Take your time, there's no rush. Since the Marquis has agreed, that's a good thing. But why do you have to buy an official position at such a high price? Has the Marquis given a reason?"

If we were to buy a Langjiang (a military officer), wouldn't that be a bit "eye-catching" in the military command? After all, my second sister-in-law said that as a newcomer to officialdom, how could I be in a high position?

Wenxing was sitting there wiping her sweat when she noticed her mistress's puzzled expression. The little maid grinned.
“Miss, although the Marquis did not elaborate on this matter, there must be a reason behind it. I will pass on your message. It is said that Young Master Xue donated a seventh-rank patrol inspector, but the Marquis said that since he was going to buy it anyway, why buy this? Buying a Langjiang would be more appropriate. Although I do not understand, I know that the ranks are different.”

"You,"

Xue Baochai affectionately reached out and tapped Wenxing's forehead with her finger. Perhaps the Marquis was thinking of something; as the saying goes, a higher-ranking official can crush a lower one, and that's why...
"Alright, come with me to Rongqing Hall. I imagine Second Sister-in-law and the Old Madam are getting impatient."

"Yes, ma'am."

After the master and servant finished their conversation, they got up and went to the main room, where they took some prepared pastries and went to the East Garden.

now,

Inside Rongqing Hall,

The room was already filled with laughter and cheerful conversation. In the East Warm Pavilion, the windows were wide open, and the room was slightly cool, as if in stark contrast to the sweltering heat in the garden. On the west side, an openwork bronze incense burner was burning, and its cool fragrance permeated the spacious hall along with the warmth of the heating.

Grandmother Jia leaned against the pearwood armchair, covered with a light brocade quilt of dark green with gold thread embroidery of lotus blossoms, listening to Madam Xing's ramblings about the trouble Zong'er had caused recently. Wang Xifeng, dressed in a crimson skirt with gold floral patterns, sat casually on a brocade-covered footstool in front of the couch, peeling pine nuts, and chimed in with her comments:

"What you say is true, my wife. This man was always annoying when he was young, but he's become much better as he grows up."

As he spoke, his other hand never stopped, peeling pine nuts with the speed and skill of magic, eating some himself while offering a few to Grandmother Jia.

Not far away on the other side of the room, without any curtains to separate them, the three sisters of Chun were gathered around a large round table made of huanghuali wood, watching Jia Baoyu copy a piece of calligraphy. Xichun was intently watching from the front, Tanchun was grinding ink for Baoyu, occasionally glancing up, Yingchun was leaning against the table without saying a word, and Xiangyun, dressed in a red robe with crabapple blossoms, was holding a flower cake in her hand, thinking of feeding it to Baoyu, and was also calling out:

"Second brother, try this, this flower cake has a new flavor..."

Just as things were getting chaotic.

The beaded curtain was gently lifted, bringing in a slight breeze. Everyone in the room turned their heads and saw Xue Baochai leading Ying'er and Wenxing, walking in unhurriedly.

At this moment, Xue Baochai had changed into a long gown made of autumn-colored brocade. Her beautiful hair was adorned with only a plain wooden hairpin, which made her face appear as soft as the first snow. Her steps as she entered were both dignified and quiet, and even the occasional touch of her skirt did not make the slightest sound.

Wang Xifeng's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Marquis of Luoyun's mansion had sent a reply? Upon closer inspection, she saw that Xue Baochai's brows and eyes did not show any signs of impending doom, and there was even a gentle smile on her lips. However, beneath this smile, there was a hint of almost imperceptible relief. It seemed that Baoyu's matter of donating an official position had been settled.

"May the old lady and ladies be well."

Xue Baochai bowed respectfully to Grandmother Jia and the two ladies, her voice clear and gentle.

this scene,
Grandmother Jia was immediately delighted. As the saying goes, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Now that she was here, the matter of Baoyu was almost settled.
"Bao'er is here, come on, sit down."

"Listen to the old lady."

Xue Baochai didn't hesitate either, sitting down gracefully next to Grandmother Jia, behind the Second Mistress. Glancing out of the corner of her eye at the three young ladies on the west side, before Xue Baochai could even greet them, Fengjie beside her extended a hand.

"You've come at the perfect time. The village down below sent over some venison that was cured last year. Sister Liu is steaming it right now. Let's have a taste together."

Although she said these words, her eyes seemed to be questioning. Xue Baochai smiled, understood what her second sister-in-law meant, and nodded directly.
"Second sister-in-law, it's done!"

Upon hearing the last two words, the pine nuts in Wang Xifeng's hand immediately fell to the ground.

Even the First Madam and the Second Madam stopped drinking and looked over. Grandmother Jia also sighed.

"You've certainly improved, Xue family girl. Are you saying that the Marquis of Luoyun's residence has replied?"

Before Baochai could answer, Fengjie had already thrown the pine nuts back and grabbed Xue Baochai's arm.
"Good sister, thank goodness you've brought the message. I was just thinking that this matter isn't urgent, but it can't be delayed either. I thought I wouldn't be able to reply until tomorrow." Her eyes were bright, her words were both witty and sweet, showing that she cared about Baoyu's affairs. Even the Second Madam didn't have a bad word to say about it.

For a time,

The commotion drew everyone's attention. Baoyu stopped writing and looked up, Tanchun stopped writing with her ink stick, Yingchun, who was leaning against the table, turned around, and Xiangyun, whose pastries had long since disappeared, also became curious about what was happening inside.

"How could I dare to delay my second sister-in-law's instructions? As soon as she left, I sent Wenxing to the Marquis's residence. Fortunately, the Marquis was there and delivered a message. I just happened to come here to congratulate the old lady and the madam."

Xue Baochai remained motionless, but Feng Jie, with her plump figure, leaned against her side, her body slightly tilted to the side. Inside the room, upon hearing the Marquis's reply, the air in the entire Rongqing Hall seemed to be drawn out even thinner in an instant, and even the old lady's usual smile became much more restrained.

"How... should I reply?"

Madam Wang tightened her grip on the amber prayer beads on her wrist, but her voice remained calm, only slightly higher than usual.

Xue Baochai's gaze swept over the breathless faces around her, finally settling on Feng Jie. She rose and offered a deep bow to the Second Madam.

"Don't worry, Second Madam. The Marquis said that the Military Command is alright, there's nothing complicated about it. If you go there to fill a vacancy, there will be someone to look after you."

Following the Second Madam's suggestion, Xue Baochai slightly modified the Marquis's reply, which was harmless.

"Okay, okay,"

Grandmother Jia finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since Marquis Luoyun had agreed, and given Xue Pan's personality, everything would be fine, it seemed that Baoyu would also be alright if he went there.

Madam Xing's face was somewhat gloomy. She glanced at Jia Baoyu, who was still putting on an act, and for some reason, she felt a sense of annoyance. Thinking of Jia Zong, who was still in the clan school and was still so useless, she felt a surge of anger.

"Amitabha Buddha—May the Buddha protect us!"

Second Madam Wang was the first to let out a long sigh of relief. Her chest rose and fell noticeably, and the tension suddenly eased, revealing a look of relief and comfort on her face. She quickly twirled the amber prayer beads in her hands.

"But I wonder if the Marquis has any suggestions regarding the vacancy in the Military Command?"

Since one can buy an official position, filling a vacancy is even more important than buying an official position. If done well, not only will the benefits be substantial, but the power in one's hands will also be considerable. Thinking back to the day before, when Jia Lian returned with his troops, his imposing manner had already been cultivated. If Bao Yu were to become an official, he would naturally be no less capable than Jia Lian.

"Second Madam asked the right question. The Marquis did give an explanation on this point, saying that since we have donated for an official position, we might as well buy a top-ranking one. Once we have a fifth-rank official position, we can fill a vacancy and get a sixth-rank position."

Xue Baochai relayed these words without adding any embellishment, and precisely because of this, everyone in the room was somewhat taken aback.
Even the two capable servants, Wang Shanbao's wife and Zhou Rui's wife, who had been standing quietly by the side, instantly revealed a hint of flattery on their faces. They exchanged a knowing, mutually beneficial glance. The substantive post of the Five City Garrison Command, a sixth-rank official position, was already quite high. For the stewards inside and outside the Jia family, it meant that they would have an easier path to navigate certain connections in the future.

"Having a higher official rank is a good thing, but a fifth-rank official position plus a sixth-rank substantive post in the Military Affairs Department, I wonder how much silver that would cost?"

Madam Xing's words were like a ladle of lukewarm water poured into hot steam, carrying a hint of hesitation. Everyone says that it's easy to buy an official position by donating money, it's just a matter of silver, but the actual number of vacant positions is much more than just a little.

"Well... the Marquis's residence didn't mention that."

Xue Baochai paused, then shook her head. No matter how much money it was, it wouldn't be a problem for the Xue family. Could it be the Rongguo Mansion? Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Fengjie's face and noticed something unnatural.

In a flash,

The noise in the room immediately quieted down. Everyone knew that if they went through the palace channels, they wouldn't lose a single penny.

Sister Feng reacted the fastest. After a brief moment of surprise, a hearty laugh instantly broke through the subtle awkwardness. She laughed so hard she almost fell over, and the phoenix hairpin in her hair trembled wildly.

“Oh dear, Madam, look at what you’re saying. Donating a fifth-rank official title doesn’t cost much silver. Even if we start from the ninth rank, a fifth-rank official title would only cost 18,000 to 10,000 taels of silver. As for a real official position, it would be more expensive. Even if it doubled, we could still afford it.”

Wang Xifeng laughed so hard she almost fell over, tears welling up in her eyes. As she laughed, she subtly glanced at Madam Wang's face out of the corner of her eye.

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but chuckle, clapping her hands and saying:

"I've already said that no matter how much it costs, it will all come from my wife's side, as long as Baoyu's affairs can be arranged properly."

She casually brushed aside Madam Xing's inappropriate words, but her gaze unconsciously drifted past the crowd and landed behind the pearwood table next to the warm pavilion.

Jia Baoyu remained seated on a bamboo couch at the back, leaning against thick satin cushions, his hand groping for the inkstone on the table.

He had seen the room filled with laughter the moment Xue Baochai entered, and he was still wondering why Lin Daiyu hadn't come. He also heard people talking about donating official positions, which made him feel annoyed. Especially when he turned around and saw the old lady's meaningful gaze, it felt like a thorn was sticking out at him.

He stepped forward and said;
"Grandmother, your grandson doesn't want to be an official; he only wants to stay with you."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I have plenty of people to serve me. You will be the pillar of the family in the future. It's not proper for you to stay at home instead of becoming an official."

When Grandmother Jia heard Baoyu's words, how could she be willing? Her words were full of both pampering and scolding. As long as he wore the official robe, and the Meng family's daughter entered the family, she would be even more delighted.

After being scolded by the old lady, Jia Baoyu blushed and didn't know what to say. He retreated dejectedly and sat on the west chair. His eyes couldn't help but look towards Xue Bao, and for a moment, he was blinded by the sight.

now,

Wang Xifeng stopped laughing, and Baochai's sleeve slipped down slightly due to Wang Xifeng's tugging, revealing the jade bracelet on her wrist.

It was a round, lustrous green with a restrained luster; it was clearly an antique. When Sister Feng saw it, her eyes lit up with emotion.
"Don't worry, Grandma. Baoyu was just joking. I heard that at the Imperial Academy, Guo Xuezheng will be testing students on policy essays at the beginning of next month. Lan'er also said that those who fail the test three times will be expelled. Since we have this safe path, why take a detour? Eunuch Liu is an old acquaintance of our household. As long as he gives us a definite answer tomorrow, it won't take long."

Eunuch Liu is a veteran of the laundry department. Historically, nobles and their relatives have all sought connections through him, so there's nothing to hide about it.

"Alright, since the Marquis's residence has sent word, let's do as the Marquis says. They say that a higher-ranking official can crush you, and perhaps that's what the Marquis means. Tomorrow, send a clever man to have Lai Da make the trip. This time, don't be stingy with the money. Only by feeding these people will things be easier to handle."

Although Grandmother Jia appeared relaxed on the surface, she was still somewhat uneasy inside. She wouldn't have felt this way if it were someone else's family hosting the event, but when it was her turn, many distracting thoughts crossed her mind.

"Yes, madam, don't worry. Tomorrow morning, I'll have Lai Da take the invitation and wait at the entrance of the Twenty-Fourth Prison. I'll handle this personally."

Wang Xifeng readily agreed, saying that as long as the price was agreed upon, everything else would be easy to discuss. Suddenly, she noticed Baochai beside her and asked her;

"Little sister, are you coming along with us, or...?"

Seemingly inquiring about the connections the Xue family intended to use, Xue Baochai smiled and said;
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Sister-in-law, to submit the names as well. As for the money, just let me know how much you need. Here's a thousand taels for Eunuch Liu as a gift."

As he spoke, he stuffed a thousand taels of silver into Feng Jie's hand, and immediately, the expressions of the people in the room became somewhat strange.

(End of this chapter)