The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 529: Early Palace Examination
There is an old Chinese saying that wealth does not last for more than three generations. Similarly, if a prominent family cannot produce a capable person within three generations, then this family is basically doomed to decline. When the older generation in power dies and passes away, this family will inevitably quickly fade out of the circle of power and become like everyone else.

The situation of the Jia family is similar now. The two titles passed down from their ancestors have been lost, and only Jia Zheng still holds an official position, but he is only a fifth-rank doctor of the Ministry of Works, which is better than nothing. If the next generation is full of drunkards, then the Jia family will basically have no hope.

Therefore, Jia Huan's success in the imperial examination was undoubtedly a great event for the Jia family. It meant that the Jia family finally had a successor. The key point was that Jia Huan emerged with the strong momentum of winning five top honors in a row, so his future was limitless.

This is also the reason why Grandmother Jia attached great importance to Jia Huan. When she was seriously ill, she refused to "die" even on her last breath, for fear of dragging Jia Huan down. The latter did not disappoint her, and once again won the first place in the imperial examination and took home five yuan, bringing hope of revival to the declining Jia family.

It is no exaggeration to say that at this time, the status of Jia Huan, the illegitimate son, has completely overshadowed that of Jia Baoyu, the legitimate son, as can be seen from the attitudes of the servants.

In ancient times, the concept of legitimate and illegitimate children was very important. It was difficult for illegitimate children to succeed, but so what? If they were strong enough, illegitimate children could also make a comeback!

After Jia Huan finished worshipping the ancestral hall with a grand ceremony, the relatives and friends of the Jia family came to congratulate him one after another. The four kings, eight dukes, and twelve marquises of the founding of the Jin Dynasty basically sent people to give gifts. Prince Beijing Shui Rong even came in person. No, he can't be called Prince Beijing now, because of the case of reselling salt permits, Prince Beijing has been demoted to Marquis of Jian'an. In addition, Feng Ziying also came to congratulate Jia Huan. He now serves as the commander of the Shenji Camp.

Those who came to congratulate were all distinguished guests and must not be neglected. As the protagonist, Jia Huan naturally had to attend the banquet. So it was not until dark that all the guests had left that Jia Zheng let him go back to the garden. He was very tired.

The weather in March was already very warm, and the insects that had been lurking for a whole winter came out to move around. One could hear the chirping of insects outside the window. There was a pond outside Yuewei Ju, and the frogs were croaking particularly happily. The annoying mosquitoes were also out patrolling. Even with new window screens installed, some still slipped through the net and broke in. Jia Huan was just taking a rest on the couch when he got several bites on his forehead.

Ping Er was so distressed that she quickly took out some cooling oil to apply on Jia Huan, and told Qing Wen to light some mugwort to repel mosquitoes. Mandalin counted the bumps on Jia Huan's forehead and said with a smile, "What a coincidence, there are five in total, five yuan!"

Jia Huan couldn't help laughing, Qingwen also laughed secretly, but Ping'er was so angry that she slapped Mandarin's pear-shaped buttocks twice, scolding with a smile: "Damn you, you still have the nerve to say that, you are the only one who is idle in the room, not even lighting the wormwood incense, not even chasing away the mosquitoes."

Mandalin rubbed her buttocks and blinked aggrievedly, "Sister Ping'er, you didn't call me, how would I know."

Ping Erh was angry and said, "I didn't ask you to eat, so you don't want to eat? What are you doing drawing those useless drawings all day? I don't know what you are for."

Seeing that Ping'er, who was always good-tempered, seemed really angry, Mandalin couldn't help but stick out her tongue, hugged Ping'er and said coquettishly: "Sister Ping'er, don't be angry. Please forgive me this time. I will be more careful next time." After that, she looked at Jia Huan for help.

Jia Huan shrugged his shoulders to show that he could do nothing to help. Since Sister Ping'er was angry, he had to give in. Seeing that Jia Huan would not help, Mandalin could only use her skills to grind tofu, which made Ping'er blush. She was both embarrassed and angry. She broke away from the foreign maid's arms and said angrily, "You are so tall and strong, and you are not ashamed. This time, I will punish you to prepare hot water for the Third Master to bathe."

Mandarin's eyes lit up and she smiled, "Yes, sir!" Then she happily walked out of the room with her long legs.

Ping'er immediately felt a little regretful. Wouldn't this be a bargain for that slut?

An hour later, Jia Huan finished his bath with the help of a foreign maid. All his fatigue was swept away and he felt refreshed. He sat behind the desk and carefully played with the gifts given by Jia Yuanchun.

Although Jia Yuanchun would give gifts to her brothers and sisters during the New Year and other festivals every year, including one for herself, it was all just a routine matter. This was the first time she had given herself a reward alone, so the meaning was naturally different.

In other words, Jia Yuanchun began to value Jia Huan and acknowledged the status of her half-brother in the family. Compared with Mrs. Wang, Jia Yuanchun was undoubtedly more wise and pragmatic. She needed help from her mother in the palace, and Jia Huan had passed the imperial examination and would soon be able to serve as an official in the court. Jia Huan had huge advantages in both talent and age, and his future was limitless.

"Miss Lin is here." Qingwen's voice came from outside.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Daiyu lifted the curtain and walked in. Jia Huan hurriedly stood up from behind the desk and said happily, "Sister Lin."

Lin Daiyu was wearing a short jacket embroidered with lavender orchids tonight, and a pleated skirt embroidered with green-calyx plum blossoms on a white background. She wore a light green brocade belt with gold sparkling around her waist, which made her slender waist look just right. She was indescribably graceful and charming. Her hair was combed in a half-flowing bun with a pearl hairpin inserted diagonally. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains with dark black in them, and her eyes were like divine spring water. She was so beautiful that it was pleasing to the eye.

"Brother Huan, what are you doing?" Lin Daiyu walked closer with a smile, and when she saw the things on the table, her heart was moved.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "These are gifts from the Imperial Concubine. They come in pairs, so I'll give one to Sister Lin. You can choose one."

Lin Daiyu felt sweet in her heart, glanced at Jia Huan and said, "Since it was given by the Imperial Concubine, you should keep it for yourself. Besides, I don't need it."

"Oh, okay, then I'll keep it for myself!" Jia Huan said as he pretended to put it away.

Lin Daiyu quickly stretched out her jade hand to hold it, Jia Huan said with a smile: "Didn't Sister Lin say you didn't want it?" Lin Daiyu smiled and said: "No, I want it now." After that, she picked up a sheep-hair brush and a brush washer, and laughed softly: "That Hui inkstone is a good thing, I am not worthy of it, so I gave it to you, Sister Bao or Sister Qin."

Jia Huan couldn't help sweating secretly, and whispered: "It's ok for you to tease Sister Bao, but it's too much to tease Sister Qin. Sister Qin is promised to someone else."

Lin Daiyu blushed, rolled her eyes at Jia Huan and said, "You are just imagining things."

"Who is imagining this?" Jia Huan said with a smile.

Lin Daiyu's heart trembled, her face became even hotter, and she turned and left: "I'm going home!"

Jia Huan was stunned for a moment, and quickly reached out to hold her hand and said, "Sister Lin just arrived, and she's leaving now. At least sit for a while before leaving."

Lin Daiyu was caught by Jia Huan's hand, she felt embarrassed and said in a low voice: "Let go, someone will see us."

Lin Daiyu was charming to begin with, and her shy, anxious and coquettish look was even more fascinating. Jia Huan was so moved that he was reluctant to let go. He held her smooth wrist and said in a shameless manner: "Sister, if you agree to sit for a while longer, I will let go."

Lin Daiyu had no choice but to agree, and Jia Huan then smiled and let go of her hand. Lin Daiyu was embarrassed and angry, and poked Jia Huan's forehead with her slender finger, saying angrily: "You are really the evil star in my life!"

Jia Huan only smelled a familiar fragrance in the sleeve, and his heart was moved. He grabbed the sleeve and put it under his nose to smell it. At this time, the door curtain rustled, and it was Ping'er who came in with tea. Lin Daiyu hurriedly pulled back her sleeve.

"Miss Lin, have some tea."

Jia Huan hurriedly said, "Don't give Sister Lin tea so late at night. She is a light sleeper. If she drinks tea, she will probably be unable to sleep."

"I know, this is a calming tea, it won't be a problem!" Ping'er said with a smile.

"Thank you, Sister Ping'er." Lin Daiyu took the tea.

Ping'er handed another cup of calming tea to Jia Huan and then left. Lin Daiyu was not thirsty either, so she took a symbolic sip and put the cup down, but Jia Huan picked it up and drank it without any hesitation.

Lin Daiyu hesitated to speak, and finally gave someone a helpless look, as if strands of spring rain fell on her heart, and asked softly, "Is the palace examination on the 15th?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "It has been moved up to the eighth day. The grand ceremony of selecting the best candidates will be held on the eleventh day, and the banquet of grace and honor will be held on the fifteenth day."

Lin Daiyu was surprised and said, "Strange, so rushed? In the past, the palace examination was held on March 15th, and the results were announced on April 1st."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "We are indeed a little late this time. It is said that the fifteenth day is the birthday of the retired emperor, and the emperor plans to let the new scholars celebrate the birthday of the retired emperor."

Lin Daiyu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. But come to think of it, this is also true. It was originally an extra examination for the Emperor's seventieth birthday."

All along, the retired emperor Kangping remained in seclusion but did not step down. In fact, the government affairs before the fifth year of Qiansheng were all controlled by Emperor Kangping. After the fifth year of Qiansheng, Emperor Qiansheng gradually gained a certain say, which is the so-called "the sun and the moon hanging in the sky illuminate the universe."

In the past two years, the power struggle between the retired emperor and Emperor Qiansheng has gradually intensified. The most notable events are the Yangzhou smuggling salt case and the salt permit reselling case. Emperor Qiansheng successively defeated Prince Yi Zhong and Wang Ziteng, and recently he dealt a heavy blow to the old noble group. He has basically taken control of the government. If nothing unexpected happens, after his 70th birthday, Emperor Kangping will completely fade out of the power circle and spend his remaining years in the Western Garden.

The reason why Emperor Qiansheng held an additional imperial examination was ostensibly to celebrate the birthday of the retired emperor, but in reality it was to remind Emperor Kangping that you are already seventy years old and it is time to go to bed. Therefore, it is normal to hold the palace examination in advance and to hold the banquet of honor in a hurry on the birthday of the retired emperor.

The palace examination was presided over by the emperor himself, so the Jinshi were also called the emperor's disciples. As the saying goes, once a teacher, always a father, so the emperor was also called the monarch and father. Emperor Qiansheng wanted to take advantage of the banquet to let the new Jinshi celebrate the birthday of the retired emperor. To put it bluntly, it was to declare sovereignty to the emperor. The new Jinshi represented the future of the country, and the future of this country belonged to him, Emperor Qiansheng.

Back to the topic, Lin Daiyu and Jia Huan chatted for another two cups of tea before leaving Yueweiju and returning to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to sleep.

(End of this chapter)