Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1167 Lin Daiyu's Consideration
In the imperial study room,

The Emperor's somber voice rang out. The suppression of this case was intentional on his part. The actions of the Six Ministries, the Grand Secretariat, the Directorate of Ceremonial, and those nobles had long been reported to the Imperial City Guard. Their actions were constant, with many currying favor and observing from the sidelines. It was a scene of various schemes and rumors.

"Your Majesty is wise! This is precisely the intention; it is not a matter of delay, but rather a pursuit of complete success."

The Grand Secretary nodded in agreement, saying calmly, "Since we are in a dilemma, why rush things?"

"Ah."

Zhou Shihong responded again, pointing to the open memorial of Marquis Luoyun on the imperial desk.
"When Marquis Luoyun was leaving, he also submitted a memorial to me, saying that Xu Changwen's heart was commendable and his feelings were pitiful. He was a poor scholar who was fortunate enough to be appointed as a county magistrate by the grace of the emperor. He wanted to do something for the people, but he was always weak and powerless and did not understand the ways of officialdom, which led to this disaster."

The cabinet officials breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the emperor was inclined to support the Marquis's opinion, while Chen Hui felt a tightness in his chest.

however,
Emperor Zhou Shihong abruptly changed the subject, his finger lightly tapping on the lines in Zhang Jinyu's memorial regarding the recommendations for dealing with Xu Changwen:
"However, his proposal to dismiss Xu Changwen from office and never be reinstated, and his proposal to dismiss Xu Dong, are similar. I... understand his intentions deeply, but the special imperial examination is imminent, and the autumn examination is related to the stability of the court. How can there be such a precedent?"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"However, the court has its own laws and regulations. The determination of criminal cases is related to the national system. How can the severity be determined by a single person's opinion? The proposal of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Three Judicial Offices to 'execute after autumn' is in accordance with the law and is not inappropriate. Your advice is also not inappropriate."

Chen Hui felt relieved. The expressions of the cabinet members changed slightly. They opened their mouths to speak, but Zhou Shihong raised his hand to stop them.

"Xu Changwen, whether you are guilty or not, I still need to submit these memorials to the Emperor Emeritus for a decision. In a few days, you can wait for the letter in the cabinet."

Everyone was startled. His Majesty had said so much, but still hadn't made up his mind. Seeing this, Li Chaosheng wanted to ask for permission, but Chief Minister Li pulled his sleeve, gently shook his head, and slowly got up.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Once someone took the lead, others naturally followed suit. As if it had been pre-arranged, they all stood up and cheered. Eunuch Chen from the Directorate of Ceremonial breathed a sigh of relief, having temporarily passed this hurdle. He was still unsure how to proceed with the matter concerning the Emperor Emeritus.

But Zhou Shihong wasn't finished speaking. His finger was still pointing at the memorial, and his voice slowed, carrying a profound meaning:

"Since autumn has arrived and many criminals have been detained in the court, whether to execute them or not, we will decide on the matter together in the next few days. The court has its own laws and regulations for employing people. Punishments should be based on the law, and appointments should be based on ability and in accordance with the system. It is not appropriate to kill someone outright, as that would be too harsh on the law and... probably not in line with the Emperor Emeritus's benevolent and compassionate intentions."

Zhou Shihong's gaze became distant, as if he was thinking about something. When he mentioned "the benevolence of the retired emperor," everyone in the hall was startled.

A silence.

Grand Secretary Li suddenly realized that this matter ultimately required the Emperor Emeritus's approval. If the Emperor Emeritus agreed, Xu Changwen would be safe, though he would be spared the death penalty but not escape punishment. At that time, who in the court would dare to employ him again?

Having served as an official my entire life, I have never truly met such an incorruptible person. It is a pity that he was born at the wrong time.

"The Emperor's Holy Might."

Another cheer erupted, and everyone composed themselves, turning their gazes back to Minister Zhao, who had already handed over a stack of memorials. After Emperor Wu read them, the gloom on his face did not lessen in the slightest.

“Jingnan is the gateway to the southern heartland. Since the princes are confident in leading troops to stop them, let them go. Fancheng is north of Linghe. Should we still take the two cities to the south? Jiangzhou and Suzhou are the forward stations for the three counties of Lingnan to go west. We cannot lose them. The cabinet drafts an edict to have the Prince of Han immediately stationed in Suzhou and Jiangzhou and monitor the situation in Changyun County. The cultists are not giving up. We must be on high alert.”

The Emperor Wu then reviewed the secret report from Changyun County and asked again;

"Are the local militia in the southern prefectures any suitable?"

Minister of War Zhao Jingwu's face darkened, and he bowed his head to report.

"Your Majesty, the reports of the garrison troops in the southern prefectures are all false. Only the old, weak, sick, and disabled remain, making them useless. If the rebel army comes to the city, they will hardly be able to stop them."

The military system of the prefectural army had long been in disarray. Apart from the prefectural armies of the regional military governors around the capital, which were still somewhat useful, the prefectural army generals in other cities were all exploiting their soldiers and deceiving their superiors. This was no secret.

"Hmph, you all know this, right? According to the Great Law, any official or general who abandons a city and escapes, unless they have made significant contributions or are of the third rank or above, is guilty of having their family and clan exterminated. If a city is lost, Minister Zhao, investigate thoroughly."

This time, the Empress will not let those who hold positions without merit off lightly. Including officials in the southern part of the capital, she has already slaughtered countless people.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey the decree."

Left with no other choice, Minister Zhao had to accept the order, but it was a pity that his friends, students, and old acquaintances were gone.

During this conversation, the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet were unusually silent, especially Chief Minister Li, who sat there with his eyes half-closed, as if he were at home.

The Emperor put down the memorial in his hand, glanced at everyone in the hall, and suddenly smiled.

"Alright, now that we've finished discussing things, let's go back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Everyone rose and bowed deeply before slowly retreating. Finally, after several eunuchs and servants had left, Emperor Wu gathered the memorials together, handed them to Dai Quan, and gave him instructions.

“Send all these memorials, along with the matters concerning Jingnan, to Changle Palace for the Emperor Emeritus to decide.”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

It is said that undercurrents are surging in the capital.
Today, Grandmother Jia was in a great mood. She was reclining on the soft couch, her face glowing, and her eyes and brows were full of smiles.

Inside the room, a warm and cozy atmosphere prevailed. In Rongqing Hall, a poetry gathering was held thanks to Baoyu's persistent pleading. Grandmother Jia, who also enjoyed lively gatherings, readily agreed.

At noon, after lunch, people were sent to each courtyard to summon Sanchun, Shi Xiangyun, Daiyu and Chai to Rongqing Hall.

The first to arrive were the three girls, who, along with Shi Xiangyun and carrying freshly bought pastries, entered the house noisily. Baoyu had organized the poetry gathering, so he had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing his three younger sisters enter the house, he quickly invited everyone to sit down.
"Your arrival is just in time. Please find a seat and sit down. It just so happens that I had Mingyan buy some cloud cakes from Yaoji Trading Company today."

The three sisters, Yingchun, came over one after another, greeted Grandmother Jia, and then looked into the room. They noticed that two rows of tables and chairs had been placed in the middle of the hall, with four or five seats on each side, as if pre-arranged. Yingchun remained silent, smiled slightly, and sat down in the first seat at the table. Tanchun, however, was puzzled and asked a question.
"Brother Bao, there are so many seats, how should we sit? Is it just a matter of sitting anywhere, or is there some kind of rule?"

"Yes, second brother. I wonder where you're sitting?"

Shi Xiangyun didn't understand the intricacies of the situation either; the seating arrangement was clearly not intentional.

Baoyu blushed. He couldn't openly express the things he was thinking, so he waved his hand.

"Please sit wherever you like. Today is just a chance to get together with all of you sisters. I've been staying at the Imperial Academy for the past few days and haven't been able to go back to my residence. I've missed you all very much."

Upon hearing her second brother speak like that, Shi Xiangyun's eyes darted around, and she moved closer.

"How about I sit with my second brother?"

As Xichun laughed, Baoyu's face flushed slightly.

"Whatever you say."

After everyone was seated, Yuanyang instructed the maids to serve tea and water, and arrange pastries. Then, she waited anxiously for Xue Baochai and Lin Daiyu to appear, but for some reason, the two hadn't shown themselves much these past few days, and it wasn't easy to catch a glimpse of them. Perhaps sensing something amiss, the three sisters, Xichun, smiled chuckled.
"Brother Bao, do you know if there are any rules for today's poetry gathering?"

In the past, they would play together, and Baoyu would join in. Now that they were older, Xichun understood many things, hence her question. Tanchun and Yingchun understood, but Jia Baoyu's mind was no longer on that.

"Oh dear, there are no rules. We'll play the same old game of musical chairs. Whoever's turn it is has to compose a poem. If they can't, they'll have to drink a cup of wine as a penalty."

Of course, there was no drum here, so they had to use porcelain bowls and chopsticks instead. Xichun was clearly taken aback and wanted to ask more, but Shi Xiangyun interrupted her.

"Second brother is indeed quick-witted; this is a good idea."

With someone praising him, Jia Baoyu's face immediately lit up with joy. He invited everyone to eat pastries, but the light in his eyes was fixed on the curtain outside the door.

I wonder when Lin Daiyu and Sister Xue will be able to come over?

The West Garden of the Jia Mansion.

The bamboo shadows were sparse, and a few withered leaves swirled and fell onto the gauze window, making the room even more quiet.

Lin Daiyu, dressed in a plain-colored Taoist robe made of fine Shu brocade, with a melon seed on one half of the sleeve, leaned against the chaise longue by the window. In her hand was a half-open scroll of the Tao Te Ching, but her gaze was fixed on the dappled bamboo shadows swaying outside the window, and a light sorrow that could not be dispelled was between her brows.

Zijuan brought in freshly brewed Longjing tea. Seeing the girl's expression, she understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

He gently placed the teacup on the small table beside the tatami mat and said softly:

“Miss, the Marquis’s letter has arrived. Haven’t you read it? The day before yesterday, after the Marquis left the palace, he didn’t even go back to his residence. He went straight to the West City Wharf and headed north by water. I heard that the Tartar army has invaded the border.”

When the Tartars were mentioned, Zijuan's face showed a hint of fear. Everyone said that those Tartars had three heads and six arms, which was terrifying.

Upon seeing Zijuan's expression, Lin Daiyu's brows instantly relaxed, and she smiled slightly.
"What are you afraid of? The Tartars are human too. I don't know how many of them have been killed by the Marquis's troops outside the Great Wall. I'm not worried about these things. On the contrary, I think that the things sent here are a bit too many."

The western wing rooms were already packed full. Not to mention the luxury items, even silver and brocade filled one room. The silver alone amounted to at least 60,000 taels, mostly sent by the Lin family, supposedly as rent from this year's farmland and some properties.

"Oh my, young lady, you are truly fortunate. Who would complain about having too much money? In any case, it is because you met the Marquis that you are fortunate. Otherwise, you might not have been able to keep your family fortune in Jiangnan."

Zijuan placed a package on the table. Most of the items inside were from the Marquis's side, including the young lady's birthday gift.

A hint of melancholy appeared in Lin Daiyu's eyes;

"Put your things away in a box. How can someone who is devoted to Taoism place offerings to Guanyin?"

Looking at the jade statue made entirely of mutton-fat jade inside the package, a strange glint flashed in Zijuan's eyes. She carefully wrapped the package, took a sandalwood box lined with silk, gently placed the jade statue inside, and offered a word of advice.
“Miss, the Marquis meant well. If the Marquis hadn’t led his troops to the south, we wouldn’t know how we got here. This treasure is very precious to me. The Marquis said in his letter that whether it’s Buddhism or Taoism, it’s all about cultivation. Moreover, there’s a saying: Buddhism is Taoism.”

After giving a serious explanation and placing the item on the bookshelf, Daiyu raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of laughter.

"What nonsense are you spouting? If those martial arts practitioners outside hear this, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause? Buddhism is Buddhism, and Taoism is Taoism. Otherwise, if they are combined, then tell me, who would be in charge between the two?"

After saying that, he picked up the hot tea, took a sip, and felt completely refreshed. He had been taking care of his health all day and was now much better.

Zijuan turned around, a smile on her face, as if she wanted to say something, but suddenly remembered the message Xueyan had just delivered.
“Miss, I almost forgot. It’s getting late. Xueyan just came to deliver a message. The old lady from Rongqing Hall has sent people to invite you twice. She said that after Master Bao returned from the Imperial Academy, he organized a poetry gathering and invited all the sisters over. Even Miss Shi went early. It’s quite lively.”

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she did not look away, only saying calmly:
"The excitement is theirs, what does it have to do with me? It's just old wine in new bottles, people getting together to say some insincere things. If they could settle down and study at the Imperial Academy, that would be good. But now that I'm back, I'm not studying the policy essays, I'm busy organizing poetry gatherings. I'm afraid my chances of passing the imperial examinations are going to be slim."

Her tone was cold, with a hint of barely perceptible irritation. These days, she and Baochai had been tacitly avoiding each other. Firstly, as she grew older, her mind became more refined. Secondly, the Jia family had been in turmoil lately, which had made the air in the garden somewhat oppressive. The more she knew about the affairs of the mansion, the more displeased she became.

"What you're saying, young lady,"

Qingwen had just entered, still holding the freshly steamed crispy pork in her hand. She placed the plate on the table, and upon hearing this, immediately looked up and retorted quickly.
"If you don't want to go, then don't go! It's your own body that's at stake. Why bother joining in the fun and making yourself unhappy? The old lady loves you and knows you're frail. She'll just give you a reply and that's it. Master Bao's poetry gathering is just an excuse to talk to his sisters. Seats have already been set up, and Miss Shi is eager to sit next to him."

Qingwen's personality has never changed. Now, the servants in the Jia family try to avoid her. She knows everything that can and cannot be said. This time, she also inquired about the news from Rongqing Hall. It is nothing more than money paving the way. The "seats set up" she just mentioned refers to the two rows of tables and chairs specially arranged in Rongqing Hall, as well as Shi Xiangyun's performance.

Zijuan quickly gave Qingwen a wink and scolded her:

"What are you saying! Your words are becoming more and more rude. You just said that this matter seems to have been arranged by the old lady, probably to amuse Master Bao. Everything in the manor is clear. If you don't go, others will say that we are aloof and disrespectful to the old lady."

He paused, then mostly offered words of advice and persuasion.

"Of course, if you don't want to go, just send someone to let us know. But if it's something important, then we can't leave it out. A few days ago, I heard that Second Madam found someone to help Bao Er Ye and that eldest son of the Xue family fill the official positions. She must have something to say. If you're really bored, let's just look at the scenery under the corridor and leave when it's over. That way, we won't give anyone anything to say."

Zijuan had inquired about many things, and this poetry gathering was not mentioned by chance. If the Second Madam were here, there must be some inside information. Also, if everyone else went but the young lady was the only one who didn't, it would be quite inappropriate in terms of appearances.

As Daiyu listened to Zijuan's incessant advice, her annoyance dissipated, and she chuckled softly.
"That's all,"

Daiyu sighed softly, gently setting down the copy of the official gazette. There were still some details she hadn't copied.

"Go then. You're acting like a nanny. You did say that Baoyu actually wants to buy an official position. Well, he may only know how to write poetry. As for policy essays and such, he probably only has a superficial understanding. He has no hope of passing the special imperial examination."

His tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

When Zijuan saw that she had agreed, she was overjoyed and quickly helped her get up and do her hair.

“Miss, you mustn’t say these things outside. I heard that Master Bao failed the imperial examination this year and his marriage to the Meng family is imminent. If he doesn’t have an official position, it will be embarrassing. I wonder why Second Madam is still trying to get that Master Xue from the Xue family to buy an official position together.”

Although Qingwen disagreed, seeing that her mistress had made up her mind, she didn't say anything more. She silently stepped forward to help, quickly arranging Daiyu's hair and changing her clothes. She chose a moon-white jacket embroidered with a few sparse bamboo stalks, paired with a light green skirt. Unfortunately, Lin Daiyu didn't like it and wore the clothes, so Qingwen had to give up.

Seeing Zijuan's expression, still seething with anger, he couldn't help but mutter to himself again:
"What else can we do? If we can buy our way into office, why bother taking the exam? The Xue family isn't short of money; they still have male members to support them. As for you, young lady, I'll support you. It's good that you're going. You can just sit there and let them play the game of passing the flower, drink the penalty wine, and compose poems. We'll just watch coldly."

This interruption allowed Xueyan to enter the room. Confused, she looked at the three people inside and, seeing the food on the table, rushed over, picked up a couple of pieces, and popped them into her mouth with a charmingly innocent expression.

"Alright, you've already gone. Who are you going to give that attitude to? It's good that you're an official now. You'll learn more about the rules. The affairs of officialdom are nothing compared to those of the inner quarters. Enough talk, let's go together."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lin Daiyu thought of her father when he first went to take up his post in Jiangnan. He often talked with his teacher Jia Yucun about official matters. Sometimes being an official was more difficult than studying.

After dressing up, the three of them, master and servants, took a lot of pastries and some silver with them, and then left the courtyard with the old nanny from the Marquis's mansion.

As they walked toward Rongqing Hall in the central courtyard, passing by the courtyard where their sister-in-law used to live, they saw that large-scale demolition and construction had already begun. Lin Daiyu immediately turned around and looked around, asking;

"How were these changes made to the courtyard? Did your sister-in-law agree?"

(End of this chapter)