The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 748 My Good Medicine
Today is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Since there is no 30th day this year, tomorrow, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, will be New Year's Eve. Officials have already begun their New Year's holiday, and Jia Zheng is no exception. These past few days he has been busy welcoming and seeing off guests, or visiting relatives, friends and colleagues.

In the past two years, Jia Zheng's position has remained unchanged. He still holds the position of a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Works. In the past ten years, he has only been promoted by one rank, which is thanks to Jia Yuanchun being chosen as a concubine. He is really quite mediocre in his official career.

Fortunately, not only was Old Man Zheng mediocre in political talent, but he also had a heart content with mediocrity, or rather, he had self-awareness. Therefore, he was content with what he had, did not compete or fight, and was neither impatient nor irritable. He would queue up at the end of the court every day and go home to chat (idle talk) after court. He lived a down-to-earth and satisfied life.

On this day, Jia Zheng was once again boasting in his Mengpo Studio, sometimes pointing out the flaws in the country, sometimes dabbling in literature. Among those present, besides the scholars and gentlemen Jia Zheng usually kept, was another guest, Jia Yucun, the traitor from the Red Mansion.

Jia Yucun was a man of great social skills and an exceptional talent for opportunism and scheming; he was born to be an official. Compared to him, Jia Zheng was utterly incompetent, not even worthy of carrying his shoes. Yet, the two became "ironclad friends." Whether this friendship could withstand the test of time remained to be seen; perhaps it was just a superficial, superficial friendship.

Back then, Jia Yucun was implicated by Prince Teng and dismissed from his post. He almost spent all his savings to bribe officials and save his life. But this guy was really something else. He lost his post quickly, but he got back up even faster. He immediately latched onto the coattails of the powerful eunuch Shi Dayong.

With his outstanding interpersonal skills (flattery, shamelessness, servility, sweet talk, deception, and backstabbing), he quickly became a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue. In the past two years, he has risen like an arrow, and is now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official, two ranks higher than Jia Zheng's position as a senior official in the Ministry of Works. It is truly astonishing!
Of course, Jia Yucun's rapid promotion was inseparable from the full support of the powerful eunuch Shi Dayong.

Shi Dayong now holds two important positions: the Director of the Eastern Depot and the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Embroidered Uniform Guard follows his lead, and with the Emperor Qiansheng's deep favor, he wields immense power and influence. He is the only one who can have any say in the inner court, and even the Empress, concubines, princes, and princesses have to show him some respect.

However, Shi Dayong was ultimately just a eunuch, and according to the ancestral teachings of the Great Jin Dynasty, he was not allowed to interfere in politics. Therefore, he urgently needed to cultivate an assistant in the outer court. Jia Yucun happened to be both capable and obedient, so Shi Dayong did his best to promote him, attempting to seize control of the Ministry of Revenue from the Donglin faction.

As a result, in just a few years, Jia Yucun was promoted several ranks and became the third-in-command of the Ministry of Revenue.

Of course, besides Jia Yucun, many other civil officials in the outer court have also defected to Shi Dayong, and they have now formed a eunuch faction that can rival the Donglin Party.

Currently, the forces in the court can be roughly divided into three groups: the Donglin Party, led by Grand Secretary Zhao Mingcheng; the eunuch faction, led by Shi Dayong; and the Diecui Academy faction, led by Sun Chengzong.

Getting back to the main point, Jia Zheng and Jia Yucun were having a very pleasant conversation, with a group of scholars and gentlemen adding their own jokes, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. At this moment, Jia Zheng's personal attendant, Li Shi'er, walked in cheerfully and reported, "Master, Steward Lin just sent someone back saying that Third Master Huan has finished handing over the prisoners to the Ministry of Justice and is currently going to the palace to meet the Emperor. He should be back at the mansion in about an hour."

Jia Zheng nodded calmly and said, "I understand. Have you informed the old lady?"

Li Shi'er smiled and said, "When Third Master Huan returned to the mansion, he naturally went to see the old lady first."

Jia Yucun rolled his eyes, stroked his beard and smiled, "Congratulations, Brother Cunzhou. Huan-ge'er has made a great contribution and returned in triumph. He will soon be ennobled. As a member of the same clan, I am also honored."

"Oh, that's all. This wicked child was just lucky and managed to achieve some merit by chance. Brother Yucun, you're too kind!" Jia Zheng waved his hand and shook his head, but he couldn't hide a hint of smugness on his face.

Jia Yucun stood up and said with a smile, "It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now and visit you another day."

After a few perfunctory words of farewell from Jia Zhengzheng, he saw Jia Yucun out of the mansion. The latter boarded his carriage and left, glancing once more at the plaque above the gate that read "Imperial Construction of Rongguo Mansion," and inwardly sighed, "They say the blessings of a virtuous family last five generations. The Jia family has been prominent for over a hundred years, spanning five generations; it should have declined by now. Yet, Jia Huan has emerged. It seems their fate is not yet exhausted. That a mediocre man like Jia Cunzhou could produce such a gifted talent as Jia Huan is truly unexpected!"

It was obvious that although Jia Yucun addressed Jia Zheng as a brother, he actually looked down on him. The reason he maintained a close relationship was partly due to his appreciation of Jia Huan's potential. However, Jia Yucun also clearly sensed that Jia Huan didn't seem to like him, which was why he took his leave before Jia Huan returned home. Meanwhile, after seeing Jia Yucun off, Jia Zheng's nonchalant demeanor vanished instantly. He immediately ordered his servants to open all the doors of the Rongguo Mansion and the ancestral hall, and summoned all members of the Jia clan. Firecrackers, incense, candles, and various offerings were all prepared, awaiting the triumphant return of their "thousand-mile steed"!

At this time, in the inner courtyard of the Jia family mansion, all the masters and maids were busily preparing and looking forward to the event. In the room of Grandmother Jia in the west wing, the atmosphere was even more lively, with beautiful women in all their colorful attire, a sight to behold.

As the saying goes, a happy occasion makes one feel refreshed. The over eighty-year-old Grandmother Jia sat in the middle, looking energetic and laughing heartily with a strong voice!

Tan Chun, Xi Chun, Dai Yu, Bao Chai, Bao Qin, and the little girl Qiao Jie'er all sat around Grandmother Jia. Also present were Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Li Wan, You Shi, Qin Keqing, and of course, Da Lian Bao (a nickname for a young girl).

This kid is quite shameless. He's already a 19-year-old adult male, yet he still shamelessly mingles with girls. And Grandmother Jia lets him have his way. I guess in the old lady's eyes, Jia Baoyu is still that precious grandson who never grows up.

Although Baochai and Daiyu felt quite uncomfortable, they couldn't get rid of the shameless Da Lianbao, so they could only try to keep their distance. But Da Lianbao was oblivious to their feelings and tried to get close to them like a sister, making them chat.

Lin Daiyu finally couldn't bear it anymore and pulled Baochai away from her seat to take a walk in the courtyard outside.

“Brother Bao is at the age to settle down and start a family, yet he is still so unruly. How will he be able to manage a household and be independent in the future?” Baochai sighed softly.

Lin Daiyu frowned and said, "We finally got rid of that fool, why bring him up again? By the way, I've been observing Baochai's complexion closely, and she seems a little off. Is that symptom acting up again?"

Baochai coughed and said, "Sister, you are very observant. You noticed that I've been having this problem for several days now, and it's neither getting better nor worse. It's just been like this all along."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu asked worriedly, "Are there any Cold Fragrance Pills left?"

Baochai shook her head. She had taken the last Cold Fragrance Pill three months ago. Her illness was very strange. When she was a child, it would only flare up once a year at most, but as she got older, it flared up more and more frequently, several times a year.

"What should we do? This medicine is too complicated to prepare, and we won't be able to get it in a short time," Lin Daiyu said worriedly.

Baochai was probably feeling a bit stifled at this moment, and lightly pounded her chest, saying, "It's alright, just hang in there. Actually... as long as Brother Huan is back, that's all that matters!"

After Xue Baochai finished speaking, her cheeks flushed slightly. Lin Daiyu asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Don't ask, it's hard to say, you'll know later. Anyway... Huan-di is my cure," Xue Baochai said shyly in a low voice.

(End of this chapter)