Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 651: When Your Name Is on the List

On May 24, the 15th year of Jiazhao, in the Earl’s Mansion, Jia Cong’s Courtyard.

There was a faint dawn in the sky, and the main room was quiet and dark. Qingwen was lying on the couch beside her in a red dress and red silk pants, with a thin quilt with a diamond pattern wrapped around her body. Her delicate and exquisite figure showed through clearly.

A pair of arms were exposed outside the quilt, the white wrists and arms were as crystal clear as snow, set off by the fiery red inner garment, and even in the dim light, they still looked breathtaking.

A ray of light came through the glazed window lattice, casting a vague shadow on the dark room and allowing Qingwen, who was sleeping soundly, to open her eyes.

She used to be a bit sleepy, but today was different. She just calmed herself down a little and then sat up.

She twisted her slender waist and got out of bed. Without even putting on her slippers, she walked barefoot to Jia Cong's bed. She saw that the tent was quiet and it was obvious that Jia Cong was still asleep.

She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and when she saw the faint light coming from the glazed window, she immediately opened the bed curtain and half of her body got inside.

He leaned close to Jia Cong's ear and said, "Third Master, get up. Today is the day when the results are announced. You promised to take me to see the rare event."

Jia Cong smelled the sweet fragrance of cosmetics in a daze and turned over subconsciously. Qingwen was touched by his body and lost her balance. She cried out and fell on the bed.

Jia Cong felt something warm on his body and subconsciously reached out to hold Qingwen's slender waist.

Qingwen's pretty face flushed, and she struggled to sit up, but her body was a little weak, and her voice was a little unclear: "Third Master, get up."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I never see you calling me on other days, but you got up so early today.

Qingwen's pretty face turned pink. She felt Jia Cong's hand still around her waist, and she felt tingling. She was confused and wondered whether she should take the Third Master's hand away. This didn't seem right...

But what he said was something else: "Third Master, today is the day when the palace examination results are announced, so of course we have to get up early. You said you would take me to see the list, so don't cheat."

Jia Cong said with a smile: "It's not even daybreak yet, how can you go to check the list so early? Qingwen, you seem to have lost weight, maybe you haven't been eating well recently."

Qingwen felt a little dizzy, and kept thinking about the hand around her waist. She said unconvincedly, "Third Master, you are talking nonsense. I eat well and I am neither thin nor fat."

The two were chatting there when they heard someone knock on the door twice and then someone pushed the door open. Qingwen hurriedly got out from under the bed curtains.

But when the door opened, Yinglian was already dressed and beaming with joy. She said, "The young master will announce the list today and he said he would take me with him. I have packed everything.

Hey, Qingwen, why are you blushing so early in the morning..."

Jia Cong smiled and lifted the bed curtain. Qingwen subconsciously touched her slender waist, hummed softly at his back, and then quickly helped Jia Cong dress and comb his hair.

Qingwen helped Jia Cong to wash and dress in the morning. Yinglian opened Jia Cong's ebony and shell-inlaid carved wardrobe, where she kept choosing and comparing items, being extremely careful and attentive, selecting the robes and belts that she thought were most pleasing to the eye.

It was still dark outside, but the courtyard was already rippling like the wind blowing through a calm lake.

Lights were on in the rooms on both sides of the courtyard. A graceful figure glided through the door and walked across the courtyard. In the morning light, her clear and pleasant voice was filled with joy.

The glazed lanterns under the eaves of the main house were still lit, and the bright yellow light shone on the corridor, casting charming shadows on the graceful figures passing by.

Before Yinglian had picked out her clothes, Zhishao came in with a smile. The two of them chatted and laughed quietly. When they had chosen their clothes, Wu'er came in with some hot water.

Lingguan's voice was heard outside. She was preparing breakfast with two little girls, and Douguan's childlike words were also heard in between.

After Jia Cong, Zhishao and others had breakfast, the sound of chirping birds could be heard from the courtyard gate. Sisters including Yingchun, Daiyu, Tanchun, Baochai and others also came over early.

Yingchun looked at Jia Cong with a smile on her face, her eyes unable to hide her pride, and she said with a smile: "Today is a big day for Brother Cong. He entered Qingshan Academy when he was ten years old. He studied hard all these years, and now he has finally achieved success."

After hearing Yingchun's words, Daiyu and other sisters recalled many past events in the past few years. Jia Cong had gone through many ups and downs from being a humble illegitimate son of the Jia family to his present life. Each of them had endless thoughts in their minds and their eyes were full of brilliance.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Today we are all sitting around in Third Brother's courtyard, waiting for him to bring back the good news..."

……

At dawn that day, the corner gates of the East and West Mansions were already opened. Today was the day that Jia Cong passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, and it was also a great event for both the East and West Mansions of the Jia family.

The housekeepers of the two mansions had made arrangements yesterday. They each selected capable servants and assigned them to the corner gates and the main gate to either guard the gates or greet and see off guests.

The carriage sheds and stables on the left and right of the corner gate have been cleaned, and the carriages and horses needed for the day have been parked early on both sides of Ningrong Street.

In the corner under the eaves of the door, the prepared firecrackers and fireworks are neatly arranged, covered with red cloth and guarded by a special person.

Several nimble servants set up ladders and took down the old lanterns from the main gates, corner gates, and side gates of the mansion and replaced them with brand new red wedding lanterns.

At the main entrances of the east and west mansions of the Jia family, two imperially-granted plaques with black background and gold characters have been polished to a shine as bright as new, as if they have passed through those solemn years and are once again emitting a deep and majestic aura.

As the sky gradually brightened, more and more people came and went on Ningrong Street. They all noticed the two mansions of the Jia family standing side by side in the east and west. They seemed to have been completely renewed overnight, showing the world that the Jia family's prominence was still there.

Today, in addition to the East and West Mansions being full of vitality, even the East Courtyard was cleaned inside and out. The two black oil doors were opened early in the morning, as if echoing the East and West Mansions, and filled with a festive atmosphere.

However, there is another happy event in the East Courtyard, because today is the engagement day of the second branch of the Jia family and the Guihua Xia family. When the auspicious time arrives in the morning, the two families will exchange engagement letters, and Baoyu and Miss Xia will be officially engaged.

In the main hall of the outer courtyard of the east route, Jia Zheng sat in the main seat, and Baoyu stood beside him respectfully.

Baoyu was very happy today, so he was naturally dressed luxuriously. He wore a purple gold crown inlaid with jewels on his head, with a trembling red pompom on it, a golden headband with two dragons fighting for a pearl, red arrow-shaped sleeves with a pattern of golden lotus and hundreds of butterflies, and a fat jade belt around his waist.

This gorgeous red outfit, paired with his delicate features, should have been quite attractive.

But as he grew older, perhaps because he had more than enough food and clothing, and his life was boring, leisurely and lazy, and plus the time he was beheaded by his old father, Mrs. Wang felt sorry for her son and kept making him nourishing soup.

Baoyu is now a little fatter than before, with fair skin, plump cheeks, and a face that is increasingly like the Mid-Autumn moon.

The gorgeous jade belt around the waist obviously needs to be loosened a few notches before it can be tied, which somewhat weakens the beauty of the gorgeous dress.

The young man is thin and tall, and some traces of his features are hard to find, but the sadness in his eyes is still as sentimental as before, and he seems ready to win the favor of others at any time.

Today is his big day, he should be very happy, but Baoyu is very sad, sad, and heartbroken...

Because he is about to marry a new bride and accept the matchmaking he despised. He will become a married man and will have a woman whose eyes will turn from pearls into dead fish eyes.

His originally naked and carefree ambitions, and all the vulgar and dirty things that he despised, will embrace him one after another, how can he not be in excruciating pain.

The career that my daughter had been dedicated to continuing since the Zhou-Zhua ceremony will soon come to an abrupt end.

His world will be limited to one wife and several concubines. How can he be kind to other women? As the matchmaker brings the engagement letter to his door, Baoyu cries for the beautiful girls in the world...

Just as Baoyu was thinking about it and was a little infatuated, he saw Jia Zheng's trusted servant come in and asked, "What instructions does the master have for me?"

Jia Zheng said, "Don't worry about anything else today. Go to the East Palace and keep watch. When you hear that Cong has made the list, come back and tell me immediately. He has passed the imperial examination and brought honor to our family. This is a great event for our Jia family!"

Mrs. Wang, who was standing by, couldn't help but feel angry when she heard this. Today was Baoyu's big day, but the master was still thinking about Cong'er's being on the list. He really didn't know the seriousness of the matter. Could it be that he was really getting old and confused?

The master didn't even think carefully about which one of his biological sons, Cong'er or Baoyu!

Baoyu, who was standing next to Jia Zheng, was now feeling a surge of sorrow and sadness in his heart.

Suddenly I heard Jia Zheng talking about passing the imperial examination and bringing honor to the family. I suppressed my nausea. My mood was so devastated, just like the flowers turning into dog shit, and the moon shining only on the ditch...

Now the auspicious moment was approaching, and because of family etiquette, Aunt Zhao brought Jia Huan, and Li Wan's maid brought Jia Lan to the main hall to watch the ceremony.

Jia Zheng sighed, "Today is quite a coincidence. The day Baoyu gets engaged is the day Cong'er gets his name on the imperial examination. If it had not been for this, I would have taken Baoyu, Huan'er and Lan'er to see the list together.

I want to show you what a scholar dreams of all his life, so that you can work hard and have a better future. "

When Baoyu heard this, it was like adding insult to injury. His legs felt a little weak, but he tried hard not to burst into tears.

He thought about getting married today. Although Miss Xia was a beauty, he had to give up a lot for this and was very reluctant to do so.

It just so happened that on my wedding day, Jia Cong's name was on the imperial examination. It was fate, and it was unlucky. What could I do? I looked up to the sky and cried bitterly...

……

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

Jia Cong and his sisters were chatting and laughing. Just after noon, Tanchun went to the east courtyard because today was her brother Baoyu's engagement day, and as a girl from the second wife's family, Tanchun naturally had to go and watch the ceremony.

When she left, she left behind her maid Shishu, who told her to get the good news that Jia Cong was on the list, and then sent someone to the East Road Courtyard to inform her. Then she left with her maid Cui Mo. When it was past noon, Jia Cong was about to leave the house with Qingwen and Yinglian to see the list when a maid came in to pass on a message.

It was said that Madam Cui of Luocang Mountain sent her grandson Liu Qiong to visit. Jia Cong found it strange and hurried to the outer courtyard to meet her.

Liu Jing'an's eldest grandson Liu Bi is a close friend of Jia Cong and now works as the head of the Ministry of Revenue in the secondary capital of Nanjing.

The second grandson, Liu Qiong, is the same age as Jia Cong and is still studying with his grandfather. Although he is only fifteen years old, he has already become a scholar, which is considered an early bloomer among ordinary people.

Jia Cong went to the main hall of the outer courtyard to meet Liu Qiong. Although he was the same age as Jia Cong, he respectfully called Jia Cong "Uncle Master" when he saw him.

After asking, Jia Cong learned that the results of the imperial palace examination were announced today. His master's wife, Cui, treated him as her own son, so she was naturally very concerned about his name on the list.

Because Luocang Mountain is located in the suburbs of the capital, information is not very convenient, so the master's wife Cui specially asked her second grandson to go to the house to wait for the good news that Jia Cong was on the list, and report back to his family immediately after getting the news.

Perhaps Cui had long regarded Jia Cong as her own grandson and was unwilling to wait for news in the mountains.

Jia Cong was grateful for his master's wife's concern, so he left Liu Qiong in the outer courtyard and asked the housekeeper to treat her well. He then led his men out of the house and went to the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

……

Luocang Mountain, Liu’s House.

Liu Jing'an paced quietly in the study, looking out the window at the green mountains and forests from time to time.

As time passed, he became older than he was two years ago. His hair and beard were all white, and his back was slightly hunched. However, his eyes became more restrained, indifferent, calm, and unfathomable.

Cui walked into the study and saw her husband's expression. They had been married for decades and she knew how he felt at the moment.

He smiled and said, "Master said beforehand that both Yuzhang and his companions were successful candidates in the imperial examination, and he didn't care about their names on the list. How can you not care at all?"

Liu Jing'an laughed at himself and said, "Now that I am old and feeble, I am a little obsessed with appearances."

Cui smiled and said, "Among the children taught by the master, Yu Zhang is the most talented. The Liu family has produced eight Jinshi, but never a Huiyuan.

Only Yu Zhang won such an honor. This is the master's proudest thing in his later years. It is natural for you to be concerned about his name on the list.

I heard that there was a serious scandal of cheating in the imperial examination some time ago, which implicated many candidates and scholars. Even Hu Shen, who won the first place and ranked third, was implicated.

The situation was changing rapidly and turbulent, but it was quite favorable to Yu Zhang. This disciple of the master was not only outstanding, but also had a very strange luck.

In my opinion, he is the champion of the exam, and will definitely be in the first class, and most likely he will be the champion of the whole country. This is the honor of Liu family. You master and disciple are both the champions, and I am afraid your names will be passed down through the ages."

Liu Jing'an smiled slightly and said, "Master and disciple are both number one in the imperial examinations. Madam, you also know that this will be passed down through the ages. I don't think it will be easy.

When Yu Zhang first landed on the ground, he was destined to be the son of a military hero. The emperor valued him not for his literary talent, but for his ability with firearms and his ability to investigate cases.

But he was able to learn without a teacher and was proficient in battle formations. He was undoubtedly a natural-born general. His military skills were even better than those of literary and artistic talents.

If he were to become the best in the world, his reputation among scholars would be very high.

Although the emperor values ​​him, he does not want someone like him to become the leader of the civil officials, which would benefit both the civil and military officials. This is not in line with the way of being a monarch."

Mrs. Cui was a master of the zither art and a person of great insight. She naturally understood what her husband meant and couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

Liu Jing'an said self-deprecatingly: "What's more, Yuzhang is my disciple. Bi'er was ranked in the top two, but she couldn't even pass the imperial examination. Isn't it ridiculous?

It is nothing more than that the Liu family has eight Jinshi (imperial scholar) in total. If everyone can become a Hanlin, I already have the reputation of being a literary saint. Does that mean my Liu family also needs to become a saint?

Madam, please don't forget that once Yuzhang passes the imperial examination, our Liu family will have nine Jinshi (imperial examination candidates) in one family, which is a great honor.

Therefore, I said nothing when Bi'er went to Jiangnan to serve as an official. The same is true for whether Yu Zhang can win the first place in the world. "

Although Cui felt that her husband was right, she treated Jia Cong as her own son and could not seem to let go of her private desire to bring him glory and honor.

He said: "A few days ago, Chen Tianguan came to visit me. When I served tea, I heard him recommend Yu Zhang as the top scholar.

He is the chief examiner of the Spring Examination, and his words carry a lot of weight. Although the master has a good idea, things are unpredictable. "

When Liu Bi heard the lady talking about Chen Mo, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Said: "Chen Mo seems to be smooth, but in fact he is scheming, otherwise he wouldn't be alive today. You can only believe half of what he says..."

Liu Jing'an continued, "When I accepted Yu Zhang as my disciple, although I appreciated his talent, I also didn't want him to be too humble in the Jia family and wanted him to have a foothold.

Although he is extremely talented and erudite, I do not want him to pursue a career in government. Instead, I hope he can become a great scholar who is knowledgeable and capable of managing world affairs.

Madam, have you heard that the Xinchun brand run by Yu Zhang is making a fortune and is very prosperous?

With his ability, he could easily obtain wealth and honor, and live a stable and long life. Wouldn't that be better?"

Cui smiled and said, "Master, you are worried that the career path is dangerous and Yuzhang will suffer because of it. In my opinion, there is no need to worry.

Although Yuzhang is young, he is more shrewd than your sons. He is born to be an official. If you ask him to be a scholar, he may not be suitable for that."

Liu Jing'an smiled slightly and suddenly said, "Being smart can't get rid of all difficulties. Sometimes fate is tortuous and human power is beyond our control..."

When Cui heard that her master said something vague, she didn't care.

She thought that although her husband had made careful considerations, it was the emperor and the chief examiner who named the names. Thinking of this, she smiled slightly and turned to leave the study.

But after Cui left the study, she did not hear Liu Jing'an muttering to himself: "I hope that these years of speculation are all wrong..."

……

Shenjing, Southern Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

When Jia Cong's carriage arrived, many people had gathered on the east wall where the palace examination list was posted, waiting to see the list, but the number of people was far less than that when the results of the metropolitan examination were announced.

When the results of the imperial examination were announced, all of the three thousand candidates had a chance to be on the list, so naturally all of them came to see the list. Together with their relatives and close friends who came with them, there were at least four to five thousand people.

However, the results of the palace examination were quite different, with only three hundred candidates on the list.

Even if those failed candidates were curious, they would not come over to admire the glory of others who made the list, for fear of meeting familiar fellow townsmen and old friends and being too embarrassed.

Therefore, although there were quite a few people gathered under the east wall, it was nothing compared to the huge crowds coming to see the results of the imperial examination.

Most of the people looking at the list were candidates for the current imperial examination. Except for a few who had too high an opinion of themselves and aimed to get the first place, or who had great ambitions to become a Hanlin, most of the candidates were relaxed and carefree, chatting and laughing without restraint, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

For most scholars, being able to enter the Spring Examination and eventually be on the list of the Palace Examination is the highest honor in a scholar's life, and they would have nothing else to ask for.

Because Jia Cong was taking Yinglian and Qingwen out with him, he parked the carriage on the roadside opposite the east wall. The butler and servants who accompanied him squeezed into the crowd under the east wall early and waited for the Ministry of Rites to post the list.

In the carriage, Yinglian and Qingwen talked in low voices while lifting the curtain to look at the crowded crowd watching the list, each of them looking excited.

In order to facilitate their travel, Jia Cong asked them to change into servants' clothes in advance, which made them look more pretty, smart, lovely and attractive.

Although Yinglian wore the servant's Liuhe hat, the rouge mole between her eyebrows was exposed, and she looked like a girl, graceful and charming. She didn't look like a servant at all. Jia Cong smiled and pulled down the brim of her hat.

At this time, the sound of rumbling drums was heard outside, and the Ministry of Rites' drums for success in the imperial examinations were beating. It was finally time to post the results.

Qingwen and Yinglian were crowded at the front of the carriage window, staring excitedly at the crowded east wall of the South Courtyard. Jia Cong also came out of the carriage and stood on the shaft to look out.

A team of imperial guards in bright armor quickly entered the east wall and drove the crowd who were viewing the list back, leaving some space under the east wall.

Three officials from the Ministry of Rites, led by six runners, set up a ladder and began to post the palace examination notice high on the east wall.

The list of 300 candidates for the palace examination was divided into only two pages. The first page showed the list of the top three with the largest number of people, and the last page showed the list of the top two candidates in the first and second classes.

In May, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and the sun was shining brightly. When the top three list was posted on the east wall, the bright yellow list shone brightly in the sun, dazzling the eyes.

The crowd looking at the list was like a calm lake with waves rising, instantly causing a commotion and ripples...

(End of this chapter)