The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 638 Promotion and Restoration of Titles
Before dawn the next day, Jia Huan got up, washed, dressed in his new court robes, and braved the cold to go to court at Fengtian Gate. Grandmother Jia got up even earlier than Jia Huan. Being elderly, she was a light sleeper, waking every one or two hours. Coupled with her worries, she woke up around 4:00 AM. After getting up, she couldn't fall back asleep, so she simply called her maid to wash and dress, and sat there waiting for dawn.

Amber yawned and advised, "It's still early before dawn, and it's freezing cold. Why don't you sleep a little longer, Grandma?"

Grandmother Jia shook her head and said, "When people get old, lying down for too long feels uncomfortable, unlike you young people. I'm not sleepy right now, so if you are, you can go back to sleep. I'll sit here for a while."

Yuanyang also advised, "Amber, you should go back to sleep. I'll take care of things here."

Amber yawned and said apologetically, "Then I'll go back and take a nap, and come back to relieve you later." After saying that, she turned around and went back to the small couch in the outer room to sleep, and soon began to snore softly.

"You should go get some sleep too. I'll sit here by the fire and won't get cold. You don't need to stay up all night with this old woman!" Grandmother Jia said to Yuanyang.

Yuanyang shook her head and smiled, "This servant is not sleepy, so I'll keep the old lady company for a while."

Grandmother Jia said with heartache, "My good child, it's all my fault for dragging you down. I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep all these years."

Yuanyang laughed and said, "What are you saying, old lady? If it weren't for your kindness, I wouldn't have such a life of luxury. Not to mention anything else, the clothes, food, and things I use are probably better than those of ordinary rich young ladies."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Your little mouth is still as eloquent as ever. Back then, I kept you by my side because I saw that you were clever and steady in your work. Over the years, I have become more and more inseparable from you. Alas, this has also been a burden on you. Most of the maids from your generation have already gotten married. Now that no one is around, I want to ask you a question: Is there a servant in the mansion that you like? While this old woman is still alive, I want to settle your marriage."

Yuanyang blushed and spat, "Old lady can't sleep, so she makes fun of me. If I had known, I would have gone to sleep too, and you could have been gazing at the sky and casting lots by yourself."

“I’m serious. You can’t stay unmarried, can you? While I’m still alive, I’ll make arrangements for you. It won’t be in vain that you’ve served this old woman for so long. Yes, you must not be interested in the servants in the manor and want to find someone better outside, or perhaps you want to become a concubine. Hmm, have you taken a fancy to Baoyu or Huan-ge’er?”

Yuanyang's face flushed as she said, "This servant has not taken a liking to anyone. After serving your family for a hundred years, I will shave my head and become a nun."

Grandmother Jia sighed and said, "Foolish child, what nonsense are you talking about? Hmm, what time is it now?"

Yuanyang glanced at the Western clock on the wall and replied, "It's almost dawn."

Grandmother Jia gave a soft "Oh," and said, "Huan-ge'er should be at court by now."

"We should head out now."

"My eyebrow has been twitching all day, and I feel uneasy. I just don't feel right. Could something bad be going to happen?" Grandmother Jia said, rubbing her temples.

The mandarin duck asked, "Is your left eye twitching or your right eye twitching?"

"Left eye!"

Yuanyang laughed and said, "A twitching left eye means good fortune, while a twitching right eye means disaster. This is a good thing. Third Master Huan has made such a great contribution, so he will naturally go to court to receive his reward. Why are you worrying so much, old lady? No wonder you couldn't sleep well all night."

Grandmother Jia chuckled and said, "That's true. Alas, there's something I've been struggling to decide about."

Yuanyang's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Is it about Third Master Huan's marriage?"

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "You little worm are just like me."

Yuanyang chuckled and said, "I've served the old lady for almost ten years. If I didn't have this much sense, I would have lived in vain."

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Back then, I originally planned to match Huan-ge with Bao-ya, but Bao-ya was unwilling, and a good thing turned into a bad thing. Later, the Xue family was implicated by Pan-ge and their property was confiscated. In the end, they were not a good match for our family."

Yuanyang sighed, "No wonder they say that a marriage between people from a thousand miles apart is tied by a single thread. It's all preordained by heaven. It's clear that Miss Bao and Third Master Huan are destined to be apart."

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Huan-ge'er is currently guarding the border. It's not easy for him to come back to the manor. I'm thinking that we should settle his marriage first."

"Miss Lin?"

Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "At first, I only thought that Baoyu and Lin were close friends, childhood sweethearts. But in the past two years, I've observed them closely, and Lin seems to be even closer to Huan. And it seems that before Lin's death, he intended to entrust Lin to Huan." Yuanyang smiled and said, "Don't even mention Grandmother, even the servants in our mansion can see that Third Master Huan and Miss Lin are exceptionally close, unlike others."

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I understand," Grandmother Jia said with a smile.

Yuanyang sighed, "It's just a pity..."

"What's a pity?"

"It's nothing, Huan-ge'er and Miss Lin make a good couple!" Yuanyang chuckled to herself, but inwardly she sighed, feeling sorry for Xue Baochai.

As the mistress and servant chatted, dawn broke before they knew it. After breakfast, Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Daiyu and the three young ladies came to pay their respects one after another, and they all sat down without leaving, clearly waiting for news.

Today's court session will feature a grand ceremony to present captured prisoners, with Jia Huan, the governor of Liaodong, undoubtedly taking center stage. With such illustrious achievements, how will the Emperor reward him?

Just as everyone was chatting absentmindedly, Lin Zhixiao's wife rushed in beaming, saying, "Congratulations, Madam and Grandmother! The Emperor's bestowals have arrived! Third Master Huan has been promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission, a rank of Third Grade, and promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. Master has been reinstated to his hereditary Second-Class General title, and Second Madam (Aunt Zhao) has been posthumously granted the title of Fifth-Rank Imperial Lady. Truly, the Emperor's grace is boundless!"

Grandmother Jia was so excited that she suddenly stood up from her armchair and blurted out, "Really?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife laughed and said, "The Emperor's words are golden and can never be false. Besides, would this servant dare to falsely convey an imperial edict? Would I even want to keep this thing on my neck?"

Everyone laughed and congratulated Grandmother Jia. Instantly, the room was filled with laughter and joy. Only Lady Wang's smile was forced, and she looked sad and bitter.

Lady Wang originally held an imperial title, but she was stripped of it because she sided with the wrong side during the restoration of the retired Emperor Kangping. Meanwhile, Aunt Zhao, who had been promoted to the position of secondary wife by Jia Zheng, was now posthumously granted an imperial title, making her status superior to Lady Wang's as the original wife.

"Thank God! The titles of my Jia family ancestors have finally been regained!" Grandmother Jia was so excited that she cried tears of joy. In the past, the Jia family was the Duke of two states, what an honor it was! But in the generation of Jia She and Jia Zhen, they lost both hereditary titles. They were truly ashamed before their ancestors. Now that the titles have been regained, how could Grandmother Jia not be overjoyed?

"Good, good, good... Thanks to Huan-ge'er's good character, even if I, this old woman, am in the afterlife, I can finally have some face to face the ancestors of the Jia family." Grandmother Jia laughed and cried, leaning on her cane, and finally calmed down with everyone's comfort and reassurance.

Aunt Xue glanced at her daughter Baochai, who stood there gracefully, feeling both happy and worried. Huan-ge'er was becoming more and more successful, and his official position was rising higher and higher. With his current influence, she wondered if he could help Bao-ya get rid of her status as a courtesan.

At this moment, the steward Lin Zhixiao strode in, beaming with joy, and said, "Congratulations, Madam and Madam! Third Master Huan has been promoted and ennobled, and Master has been restored to inherit the ancestral title. I was thinking, shouldn't we hang up the plaque bestowed by the late Emperor again?"

The old lady waved her hand arrogantly and said, "Hang it up quickly, and hang it up in a grand manner. We'll also hire a troupe to perform for three days and invite all our relatives and friends."

"Alright, I'll get right on it!" Lin Zhixiao went off excitedly.

At noon, amidst the lively sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers, the plaque inscribed "Imperial Construction of Rongguo Mansion" was re-hung on the main gate of the Jia family mansion, truly a revival of the family's prestige and a glory to its ancestors.

Looking at the newly hung imperial plaque, Jia Zheng was moved to tears, but ultimately, he was too proud to admit it. When he saw Jia Huan looking over, he quickly pretended to turn his head away as if nothing had happened, secretly wiping away his tears. He coughed and sternly admonished, "Huan-ge'er, although you have made some contributions, you must not become arrogant and domineering because of it. In the future, you should be more respectful and diligent in your work, and do your utmost to repay the emperor's favor!"

"Huan'er will heed Father's teachings!" Jia Huan bowed his head in a listening posture.

Seeing that this wretched child was so accommodating in front of everyone, Old Master Zheng was overjoyed and nodded in satisfaction, saying, "Go back and take a bath and freshen up, then pay respects at the ancestral hall to comfort our ancestors!"

Jia Huan bowed and returned to Yuewei Residence to bathe and change clothes.

In the afternoon, the main gate of the Jia family ancestral hall was opened wide for a grand sacrificial ceremony, presided over by the 83-year-old Jia family mother. All members of the Jia family, including the women, came to witness the ceremony.

Jia Huan accepted the three incense sticks handed to him by Grandmother Jia, respectfully kowtowed to his ancestors, and then lit the incense under the watchful eyes of all the clansmen.

However, just as the ancestral worship ceremony was halfway through, a group of Imperial Guards burst in, and someone shouted: "Imperial decree has arrived! Jia Huan, Governor of Liaodong and Right Assistant Administrator of Shandong Provincial Administration Commission, receive the decree!"

(End of this chapter)