Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Earl's Mansion, Conglu Hall.

Jia Cong invited Liu Bi to sit in the hall and asked the servant to serve him tea. The two chatted casually for a while and the topic turned to Liu Bi's transfer.

After Liu Bi passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, he wanted to enter the Hanlin Academy, but he failed in the examination and did not become a Hanlin Academy student.

This surprised many of Liu Bi's peers, because Liu Bi was originally ranked second and in the middle. It was not known whether it was because of Liu Bi's knowledge bias or the examiner's preference.

Those who passed the imperial examinations have always been the pride of the world's scholars, but their career paths vary depending on their talents, family background, connections, opportunities, etc.

The final outcomes vary, but there are basically three possible results.

The first class is to enter the Hanlin Academy through examination. This is a place where scholars are nurtured for the country, a cradle of the cabinet, and a ladder for high-ranking officials. In the future, there is hope that one will enter the cabinet or become the head of one of the six ministries.

The second-rate ones will not enter the Hanlin Academy, but will be selected to serve in the six ministries as observers, or as directors of the six ministries.

For those of this kind who can enter the six ministries of Shenjing, it is an excellent opportunity to accumulate personal connections and talents, and they will have the hope of reaching the pinnacle of civil service in the future. However, due to the lack of qualifications to enter the Hanlin Academy, it is much more difficult.

The third class is to be sent out to serve as county magistrate, county magistrate and other official posts. Most of them can only be trapped in a corner, unable to see the emperor's face, and are destined to be low-ranking officials all their lives.

Originally, with Liu Jing'an's prestige in the officialdom and the literati, and the fact that the Liu family had seven Jinshi (imperial examination candidates), he had laid a solid foundation in the officialdom.

If the Liu family could do something for Liu Bi, it would not be difficult for him to enter the six ministries of Shenjing as an observer or to seek a position as the head of the government.

However, Liu Jing'an did not make any plans for his eldest grandson, but just asked him to wait for the routine selection of officials by the Ministry of Personnel.

In the end, Liu Bi was selected by the Ministry of Personnel as the magistrate of Gaochun County. Compared with Liu Bi's family background, this result was quite unexpected.

……

Jia Cong asked, "I heard from the teacher that Brother Liu scored top marks in the Ministry of Personnel's three-year examination. I wonder where he will be promoted this time?"

Liu Biwei sighed and said, "I originally thought that after three years of hard work as an official in Gaochun, I would be able to return to the capital after this exam, but in the end, it didn't go as I wished.

This time the Ministry of Personnel transferred me to the Ministry of Revenue in the secondary capital as a sixth-rank official, and the result is not too bad. Compared with some of my unlucky peers, I am already secretly happy. "

Regarding the matter of Liu Bi, Jia Cong never asked Liu Jing'an about the reason.

Liu Jing'an never told him about his past as an official in the court.

However, from the rumors that Jia Cong had heard over the years, he knew that his teacher had once served as the Grand Master of the Ministry of Rites and was a senior official whom the retired emperor relied on very much.

But soon after Emperor Jiazhao ascended the throne, Liu Jing'an retired and from then on opened a school at home to teach his children.

Liu Jing'an had two sons. The eldest son served as the governor of Jiangxi, and the second son was the prefect of Qiantang. They were both officials in the six ministries in Beijing. After Liu Jing'an retired, they were all sent out one after another.

Although three of the other successful younger generations in the family entered the Hanlin Academy, they were all sent out to serve as officials in recent years.

Even though no one in the Liu family is currently serving as an official in the capital, without the power to reach the emperor, there might be something missing.

However, the family's reputation for literary talent still has a huge influence in official circles and among scholars.

Liu Bi was the eighth Jinshi in the Liu family. He did not even have the chance to transition to the Six Ministries and the Hanlin Academy, and was directly demoted to be a county magistrate.

If you say that all this is just a coincidence, no one with a discerning eye would believe it, but they just see it and don't say it out loud.

It was probably based on this idea that Liu Jing'an did not work for his eldest grandson's future, but instead let him passively wait for the Ministry of Personnel to select an official.

……

Jia Cong said: "Brother Liu, don't be discouraged. The ups and downs of official careers are all normal. Being able to pass the imperial examination is a reward for years of hard study. The world is broad and there is a lot to do.

Jinling is the hub of Jiangnan and the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties. It is rich in resources and has a large population. It is as prosperous and magnificent as the capital, and is an excellent place to visit.

The Ministry of Revenue in the secondary capital is in charge of the livelihood affairs of the six states and one prefecture in Jiangnan, which will surely allow Brother Liu to display his strengths. "

After hearing what Jia Cong said, Liu Bi's expression brightened up a little, and he said with a smile: "Yu Zhang is right, Jinling is indeed a good place to go. Yu Zhang has been to Jinling twice and did great things.

At that time, you and I were in Jiangnan together, but I couldn't meet you. It's a pity to think about it. Now you have returned to the capital, and I am going to Jinling again, which makes me feel sad.

In two days I will be leaving Beijing for my new post, and will not have time to witness the announcement of my name on the imperial list, the announcing of the names, or the banquet at the imperial palace.

By then, my Liu family will have produced the ninth Jinshi, and my grandfather will be honored again. What a glorious thing that will be."

When Jia Cong heard that he was considered one of the nine successful candidates in the Liu family, he felt a little warm in his heart. It was a great blessing for him to receive instruction from a master like Liu Jing'an. Even if he had some doubts in his heart, they were nothing.

Liu Bi, a direct descendant of the Liu family, is not only his best friend, but also regards himself as a member of the Liu family, making Jia Cong feel a strong sense of belonging. This feeling is even gentler than that of the Jia family...

……

Liu Bi added: "I have been to Jinling for a quiet time, but the waters of the capital are very deep.

In every spring examination of the Great Zhou Dynasty, three people were selected as chief examiners, usually one Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and two officials above the rank of Vice Minister of the six ministries. All of them had to be highly educated and ranked above the second class.

However, the selection of the chief examiner for this spring's imperial examination was full of twists and turns. Originally, Guo Youchang, the Grand Master of Rites, and Zheng Yan, the Junior Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, were both well-known throughout the country and had profound academic attainments, and should have been the best candidates for the chief examiner.

Unexpectedly, rumors spread that they were related to Yu Zhang. Officials from various departments of the court submitted memorials to refute them, and both of them were eliminated.

I think that because of this incident, Grandfather has become alert, so he specifically told you to keep a low profile and avoid causing trouble before the exam."

Jia Cong said somewhat helplessly: "Both of you are great scholars of the time, but because of a student like me, you both lost the honor of being the examiner."

Liu Bi smiled and said, "Yu Zhang doesn't need to feel uneasy. Being the chief examiner of the imperial examination is the pinnacle of glory for a civil servant.

But this position is related to the official career prospects of all the candidates in the world. Scholars have always been willing to risk their lives in order to pass the imperial examinations and become officials.

The position of the chief examiner of the Spring Examination is actually a position of great importance, involving numerous disputes both inside and outside the government. As the saying goes, it is probably like an ant on a hot pot.

Mr. Guo and Mr. Zheng have already achieved great success and fame. It doesn't matter to them whether they serve as the chief examiners of this year's examination or not. In my opinion, they are even reluctant to handle this hot potato.

Maybe he should thank Yuzhang in his heart."

Jia Cong thought about it and it made sense. Although Guo Youchang and Zheng Yan had not reached the top of their official careers, their reputations in the scholar community had already reached the peak. They really did not need the empty title of chief examiner of the Spring Examination.

……

Liu Bi continued, "However, yesterday there was news in the court that the cabinet minister Cai Xiang was also among those who were to be selected as the chief examiner, but he has now taken the initiative to decline the position of chief examiner for the Spring Examination.

It is said that the reason why Lord Cai declined the offer is somewhat related to Yuzhang. "

Jia Cong was also puzzled after hearing this. There were three examiners appointed by the emperor, and two of them had failed because of his own reasons. He didn't expect that there was a third person...

Seeing the strange expression on Jia Cong's face, Liu Bi smiled and said, "Because Cai Xiang's third son, Cai Xiaoyu, is also a candidate for the imperial examination this spring.

Besides, many people know that Cai Xiaoyu was Yuzhang’s classmate and close friend at Qingshan Academy.”

Liu Bi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Lord Cai declined the position of chief examiner because his own son took the imperial examination this spring and he wanted to avoid related suspicion.

Perhaps because of Cai Xiaoyu's relationship with you, he would be implicated. He saw the relevant precedent in Guo and Zheng, so he simply did not take the job and ended up with an easy and clean life."

Although Jia Cong and Cai Xiaoyu were close friends and classmates at Qingshan Academy, he had little public or private contact with his father, Cai Xiang, a cabinet student.

I only heard that this Grand Secretary Cai was known as a great scholar in the court and the country. He was knowledgeable and talented, a capable minister, and was highly regarded and valued by Emperor Jiazhao.

But this person was not a Confucian official who was full of the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. He had always been ruthless and merciless in dealing with political enemies and offenders.

People with such temperament are always very shrewd and rational. Cai Xiang held the title of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and his official career had reached its peak.

Naturally, he would not take the honor of being the examiner of the imperial examination seriously. Knowing that he would be involved in unwarranted affairs, he would naturally not take on such trouble.

……

Liu Bi continued, "The candidates for this spring's examination and the list of subordinate officials are still being selected, and the court has not yet made a final announcement, but the outside world is already surging.

Aristocratic families, civil and military officials, and candidates taking the imperial examinations all heard the news and took action.

It is said that there are people in the market who are well acquainted with the officials in the court and who privately compile a list of officials to be selected in the spring examination.

Not only does it include the list of candidates for chief examiners from the cabinet and six ministries, but it also includes the names of subordinate officials selected from various ministries for this spring examination. These people will be responsible for the initial screening of the papers later.

Nowadays, such a list has been sold for ten taels of silver on the market, and all the candidates are rushing to buy it.

Those who are lucky enough to buy it regard it as a treasure, while those who cannot buy it try to gain advantage of it everywhere, causing chaos in the world.

In the past two days, many candidates have come to pay their respects to several cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials of the six ministries every day in front of the government gates. Even some of the officials who are waiting to be selected for the spring imperial examinations have candidates trying to make friends with them in roundabout ways.

All of this was caused by the private list. Although there had been a lot of trouble in the Spring Examination in previous years, this year seems to be particularly lively.

Yuzhang followed his grandfather's advice and closed the door to visitors, which was the safest thing to do, so as not to cause any consequences... "

……

Liu Bi had already passed the imperial examination, and when he talked about these things, he just regarded them as anecdotes from the street.

But Jia Cong was facing the end of the imperial examination, so he was much more sensitive to the news than Liu Bi.

There was actually a list of candidates for the Spring Examination in the market place. This thing was clearly meant to deceive and defraud, yet it was actually sought after by many candidates taking the exam.

You should know that all the candidates who can take part in the imperial examination are already the best among the scholars, and many of them are the top talents in a state.

Such people, no matter their knowledge or vision, are extraordinary. This fictitious list can make them recognized, spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and be snapped up everywhere.

This shows that this fictitious list must have seemed meaningful and weighty, making the candidates feel that it was worth the money and helping them to be shortlisted for the spring examination.

Those who wrote this list could not be ordinary people. They must not only be familiar with the officials of various departments, but they may also be familiar with the selection principles of the examiners for the Spring Examination. Otherwise, they would not be able to roughly lock down the scope of the personnel.

Nowadays, those candidates for the imperial examinations have begun to visit and make friends with the officials on the list, and they are involved in unclear relationships with each other.

Once the imperial court announces the results of the spring examination and the selection of subordinate officials, some of the officials happen to overlap with the list of common people, and unpredictable entanglements and dangers will be hidden therein...

Even after Jia Cong sent Liu Bi away, the matter of the market directory was still on his mind.

……

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

Mrs. Xia and her daughter Xia Jingui were invited by Mrs. Wang to visit the East Courtyard.

Since the carriage stopped at the gate of the east courtyard, Mrs. Wang had already dismissed the housekeeper and servants of the outer courtyard, and brought her trusted dowry women and maids to greet them personally at the gate.

Mrs. Xia followed Mrs. Wang along the way and found that although the East Courtyard was not as large as the Xia Mansion, it was built very beautifully and magnificently.

The corridors, houses, rockery, waterside pavilions, trees, flowers and plants are arranged in an orderly manner, with winding paths leading to secluded places. Everything is new and fresh at a glance.

Compared with the grandness of the Xia Mansion, the East Courtyard reveals the noble heritage unique to the great families and noble officials. Mrs. Xia, who came from a wealthy merchant family, rarely had the opportunity to witness this kind of atmosphere, and she felt somewhat sighing in her heart.

As she walked along the way, she met the maids of the Jia family. They had decent faces, neat clothes, proper manners, and were courteous. Their demeanor was truly worthy of a wealthy family.

She looked again at the maids who were close to Lady Wang. They were dressed in silk and satin, wearing pearls and jade on their heads, and had beautiful looks. Even the girls from ordinary families were inferior to them.

When you enter the main hall, you will see the museum shelves filled with antiques, some of which are crystal clear, some of which are restrained, showing elegance and wealth.

The tables and chairs used are all made of rosewood and sandalwood from previous years, flashing with the dark light of time, which shows that they have been passed down for generations. They are not like the new luxury items of wealthy families, which exude an air of decadence inside and out.

Mrs. Xia also occasionally visited the homes of officials and nobles, but none of them had the demeanor of the Jia family, a century-old aristocratic family. She couldn't hide her admiration and envy for them.

As far as she knew, the East Courtyard here was just a side courtyard of the Rongguo Mansion. If a side courtyard could already have such an atmosphere, the magnificence of the Rongguo Mansion must be even more dazzling.

The last time Mrs. Xia visited Lixiangyuan, although it was also within the Jia Mansion, she didn't pay much attention to it at that time.

But this time when she visited, she had a few more distracting thoughts in her mind, and she asked about the Jia family's affairs before coming.

She knew that the Jia family had more than one Rongguo Mansion. The head of the family, Jia Cong, was successful at a young age, famous in the capital, and had two titles. In addition to the Rongguo Mansion, he also had the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion where he lived on a daily basis.

Not only is it the residence of the head of the family, but it was also built by royal decree. The Jia family calls it the East Mansion internally. I'm afraid its wealth and splendor may even surpass that of the Rongguo Mansion.

When Mrs. Xia thought about this, she couldn't help but feel restless...

……

The Xia family was a royal merchant family. Although their house was filled with gold and silver, in the eyes of officials and nobles, they were nothing more than pigs and sheep to be slaughtered.

She was a widow who wanted to protect her huge fortune.

She had to use the connections left by her late husband to bring those royal nobles into the Xia family's business, let them share the profits of the Xia family, in order to preserve the Xia family's wealth.

The foundation and power of a noble and wealthy family like the Jia family is exactly what a merchant family like the Xia family lacks the most...

The planning and calculations that Mrs. Xia had honed from her experience of independently supporting the family business were not comparable to those of a woman like Mrs. Wang who had enjoyed a comfortable life in the inner chamber for half her life.

When he thought of his daughter's obsession with Jia Cong, he couldn't help but sigh. To be honest, his daughter's vision and ideas were not wrong, but her approach and direction were really out of tune.

There is a huge difference between his daughter and that young nobleman, so there is no need to expect anything.

……

At this time, a maid came in and told her that the third young lady had just come from the East Palace and had now entered the inner courtyard.

When Mrs. Xia saw her daughter standing beside her, her bright eyes seemed to light up slightly, perhaps because she heard the Third Young Lady coming or the word "Dongfu".

Seeing this, she frowned a little, and couldn't help but think about it in her mind. Thinking about the purpose of Mrs. Wang's invitation today, she had a rough plan in her mind.

After Tanchun arrived at the main hall, Mrs. Wang smiled and asked her to accompany Miss Xia to walk around the yard and talk.

After the two girls left, Mrs. Xia said, "As Mrs. Jia mentioned in her last letter, the eldest girl in our family has been in the palace for many years. She is beautiful, filial, virtuous and virtuous.

If such a person could be blessed by the emperor, it would be well deserved and a blessing to the family.

However, there have always been many beauties in the palace. If one wants to be favored by the emperor, he must be favored by the emperor. There are too many details and tricks involved.

I do have a relative in my family who has worked in the palace for many years and is quite capable.

I can help Mrs. Jia find out a thing or two, but it is easier to handle the three-year affairs in the palace if the girls are selected from official families.

Because the beauties sent into the palace are selected through a set procedure and screened layer by layer, as long as they are outstanding and have some extra tricks, they will definitely be able to show their face in front of the emperor. This is the standard selection.

The eldest daughter in the family has been in the palace for many years and is a female official in the Shanggong Bureau. There are precedents for female officials to be selected as concubines within three years, but it is not in the usual practice. This is a special selection.

The special selection is ten times more difficult than the regular selection of concubines. To be selected as a female official, not only must she have outstanding character and appearance, but also family background and connections, and she must also have excellent opportunities.

Finding someone to take care of it is also very sensitive and complicated, and it is difficult to do it all at once. It requires careful research and planning, and you can't rush into it. "

……

Mrs. Wang had been thinking about this matter ever since the day she sent the letter to the Xia family. Now that she finally heard the truth from Mrs. Xia, she couldn't help but feel excited.

My guess turned out to be correct. The eunuch Xia in the palace was a relative of the Xia family. Madam Xia said that he had been in office for many years and was quite capable, so there was no one else who could do it.

However, Mrs. Xia said that Yuanchun's affairs were quite complicated and difficult to handle, and Mrs. Wang felt a little discouraged after hearing this.

But I don’t find it strange. If this matter was not difficult, how could Yuanchun have been in the palace for many years without any result?

Moreover, Mrs. Wang just heard Mrs. Xia speak very clearly, which showed that she knew the details of the matter very well, making her feel that she had finally met someone who understood.

She suppressed her excitement and said, "Mrs. Xia has such relatives and such basic means. I hope the Xia family can help me with my daughter's affairs. The Jia family will definitely remember this kindness.

If this can be accomplished, my master and I will definitely do our best to repay the Xia family and live up to their kindness."

Mrs. Xia smiled and said, "Mrs. Jia, you are too polite. You and I hit it off right away. We really get along well. You and I are both mothers, and we care about the long-term future for our children. We have the same heart.

I will send a message to the palace about this matter and ask my relative to make inquiries first to find out the current situation of the eldest lady in the palace.

For example, it is necessary to understand why one has not been selected after entering the palace for many years.

This inner palace is not like an ordinary family. There are many taboos and rules. For things like this, you must understand the basics to know whether you can handle it. Only then can you achieve twice the result with half the effort."

When Mrs. Xia said this, Mrs. Wang's mood was suddenly in turmoil again, and she seemed to be even more uneasy about her future.

But when Mrs. Wang thought about it carefully, she felt that Mrs. Xia's words were prudent. If such a thing were so easy, then any palace maid could become an imperial concubine.

But although Mrs. Wang was impatient, she also knew that today's topic had reached a limit. She could only wait for the Xia family members to find out everything about Yuanchun's situation in the palace before making any plans.

……

After Mrs. Xia and Mrs. Wang finished talking about the main things, they talked about some daily gossip with each other. The topics among the women always came back to their own children.

Mrs. Xia smiled and said, "Mrs. Jia is also a very lucky person. All her children are outstanding. The eldest daughter was selected to serve as an official in the palace because of her appearance, talent and virtue when she was only 18 years old.

I just saw the third girl at my knees. She is beautiful, graceful and elegant. She is a top-notch lady among the noble families. She is truly extraordinary.

I also heard that the son raised by Mrs. Jia is even more extraordinary. It is said in the city that he was born with a jade in his mouth. He is extremely noble and extraordinary, and he also has a good appearance. It sounds rare, but no one has ever seen it. "

Mrs. Wang was very pleased to hear this. Ever since Baoyu was reprimanded by the clan house, Jia Zheng had not allowed him to wear the jade, and even the words that came from the jade were not allowed to be talked about anymore.

This was the thing that Mrs. Wang was most proud of in her life, but she was not allowed to publicize it anymore. It was like a thorn in her throat, and she felt very unhappy.

Now, Mrs. Xia chose to mention this matter. She is truly a wise person.

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "Mrs. Xia, you are too kind. Although my Baoyu has some good qualities, he is also naughty at ordinary times. There is not a day that I don't worry about. Fortunately, he is still filial and obedient.

He has been doted on by the old lady since he was young, and was originally going to live here, but the old lady insisted on keeping him by her side, so they all lived in the West Mansion, and I couldn’t argue with the old lady.”

……

Mrs. Xia was surprised that Baoyu, a boy from a poor family, had such a high status in the Jia family and was kept by Lady Guo to be educated. The favor he received was probably not much different from that of Marquis Weiyuan.

As for the fact that Baoyu was demoted by the imperial edict, she also asked someone to find out, but in Mrs. Xia's view, this was not a big deal.

If everyone could be like that young man Wei Yuanbo, with a body as hard as diamond and without any dust or stain, who could hope for that?

Mrs. Xia smiled and said, "Whose son has never been naughty since childhood? They all went through this. As long as they understand filial piety and etiquette, the rest doesn't matter."

Mrs. Wang thought about what Mrs. Xia had said and found it to be quite what she wanted. Since the topic had been brought up and she was now asking for help, she had to be polite and considerate.

He said, "Mrs. Xia is visiting today, and Baoyu, as a junior, should come and pay his respects to her."

So he ordered his maid Caiyun to go to the West Mansion to tell Baoyu to go to the East Courtyard to meet the guest... (End of this chapter)