Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Wang Xifeng was slightly taken aback. Born into a prominent family and married into a wealthy and powerful noble household, she had lived a life of luxury for half her life.

She favors luxury in her daily attire and has seen many exquisite and magnificent jewelry pieces. She is often oblivious to what others consider desirable items.

Although Miss Xu was dressed smartly and had an outstanding appearance, she was wearing a Hu robe, which was quite different from ordinary young ladies.

That's why Wang Xifeng concluded that the girl's background was probably ordinary, and she didn't pay much attention to her clothes and jewelry because they caught her eye.

Hearing that Grandmother Jia had noticed a gold hairpin adorned with pearls, I was somewhat surprised.

But she knew that the old lady came from a distinguished family and was well-informed, so any jewelry that caught her eye must be quite exquisite.

Although I have seen a lot, I am still quite young, so it is not surprising that I misjudged things for a while.

Wang Xifeng recalled the gold hairpin that Miss Xu had, and vaguely remembered that the style was simple, but the workmanship seemed to be very exquisite.

The hairpin head was inlaid with a thumb-sized pearl, which was quite eye-catching, but even so, it was not enough to attract the old lady's attention.
The old lady was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Baoling and served as a duchess for her entire life, so she had seen countless fine objects.

……

Grandmother Jia said, "The gold hairpin in her hair is quite remarkable; it is inlaid with the finest Eastern pearls."

We often see high-quality pearls, which are usually mostly pure white. However, hers had a pale gold hue, which perfectly matched the color of the gold hairpin, making it an exceptionally fine piece.

Just now, when I pulled her aside to talk, I got a much closer look. The gold hairpin was intricately carved with openwork, featuring a golden phoenix design and five or six inlaid blue accents.

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Since it's such a good thing, it must have been given to her by Brother Cong. He's the best at winning a girl's heart."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Although Cong-ge has received gifts from the palace, they are all things like gold, imperial wine, and the Four Treasures of the Study."

There would be women's jewelry there, but Cong-ge'er could not give away such items.

This gold hairpin inlaid with blue is a superior craft. It requires taking the blue feathers of a live kingfisher and using a secret method to inlay and heat them onto the gold ornament. Folk craftsmen do not have this skill.

Only the imperial workshops could produce this item. This kind of hairpin has a name: Phoenix Pattern Inlaid Blue Bead Hairpin.

I saw it when I went to the palace to pay homage in my early years. It seems that some of the concubines of the previous generation used it, but it was so long ago that I can't remember clearly.

Although this Miss Xu comes from an ordinary family, she can still wear a phoenix-patterned hairpin with blue beads, which must be an item passed down from her elders.

It's easy to guess that her ancestors received gifts from the palace, suggesting they were once very prominent.

As the saying goes in operas, "The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people. Every household experiences its ups and downs, its triumphs and defeats; this is nothing unusual."

This Miss Xu is quite a beauty. I've heard Er Yatou mention her a few times. She's very skilled in martial arts and fought alongside Cong Ge'er in Liaodong.

Ordinary young ladies from wealthy families wouldn't have such background and courage; even humble families couldn't raise such a person.

No one in the two prefectures can help Cong-ge'er when he goes to battle, but we elders can help him win people's hearts.

She accompanied Cong-ge on his campaign, providing assistance both inside and outside the palace. If she could help Cong-ge achieve meritorious service, she would gain the Jia family's prestige and wealth.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng suddenly realized that the old lady had seen many outstanding young women. Although this Miss Xu was exceptionally beautiful, she had no official status or relationship with Cong Laosan.

The old lady was very friendly to him and pulled him to her side to talk on their first meeting.

He even gifted me a fine bracelet as a greeting present; it turns out he had quite a plan. Old foxes are indeed shrewd.

I also said that the old lady was very generous today, which shows that Miss Xu is no ordinary person.

That Cong Lao San is really good at picking women; he found them all there.

……

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Ellie returned to the East Mansion with Jia Cong, then went into her room to change into men's clothing. She put on soft armor, riding boots, a saber at her waist, and a helmet with tassels, looking dashing and heroic.

Women face many inconveniences when going to war, but changing into men's clothing makes things much easier. This attire makes them look like personal guards, and they won't attract attention when following Jia Cong.

The two men's belongings were carried out by old women, taken over by servants in the outer courtyard, and handed over to the guards outside the east corner gate for loading onto a cart.

Yingchun and the other sisters gathered in Jia Cong's courtyard, each with a somewhat heavy heart. The joy of yesterday's farewell banquet seemed to have vanished in an instant.

Daiyu knew that it was not appropriate to be sad before going to war, so her eyes were a little red, but she did not want to show it on her face.

Thinking back to when my third brother went to Liaodong last time, he also encountered the Jurchen Tartars' invasion and it took him a full six months to return home.

Everyone says that this time the Mongol Tartars are coming in greater numbers and are even more powerful than the Jurchen Tartars. If Third Brother goes on this expedition, won't it take even longer?

If this goes on for a year or two, when will we be able to see each other again? Thinking of this, her heart aches, and even when Jia Cong talks to her, she is absent-minded.

Although Yingchun was also reluctant to part with her brothers, she knew that Jia Cong was the pillar of both families, and that a man's career was to conquer all directions, which was also the destiny of a family of military merit.

Even if he was reluctant to part with his brother, he didn't want to show it at all, lest his brother be unhappy to see him on the eve of his departure and have too many worries while he was away.

……

Tan Chun has always had the ambition of a young lady, yearning for the vastness of the world, while Shi Xiangyun is bold and forthright, unwilling to wallow in sorrow.

Although they were filled with longing and affection, they knew that there was nothing they could do about it. Jia Cong was not Bao Yu, and he could not stay at home forever. A man's ambition is always in the distance.

If there's anything she's resentful about, it's that as a young lady confined to the inner courtyard of her home, she's destined to be stuck there for life, unable to accompany him on his adventures.

So when he saw Ellie, dressed in a hat and armor, with a long sword at her waist, looking so dashing, he felt very envious.

Both of them pulled Ellie aside to talk, curious about everything about her, their longing evident in their words.

……

Although Baochai's heart was filled with sorrow at parting, she was, after all, a sister from her maternal family, and with Yingchun, Daiyu, and others present, she naturally could not show it.

Because she came from a wealthy merchant family, she was more worldly-wise than Daiyu and other daughters of officials.

Brother Cong is the commander of an army, and he is leading tens of thousands of troops on the expedition. As long as nothing major happens, the journey will be safe and sound, so there is no need to worry too much.

However, the last time he went to Liaodong, he was granted the title of Earl of Weiyuan and received the honor of a marriage bestowed by the palace.

He will be going to war again, and with his outstanding abilities, he will most likely make great contributions. Who knows what kind of future awaits him?

Baochai felt a mix of joy and sorrow as she thought about these things, her thoughts adrift like willow catkins.

I've never been able to talk about my own feelings, and even though my mother knows perfectly well, she's carefully avoided the topic for the past year, perhaps because she feels it's too vague...

Of the sisters, only Xing Xiuyan was at peace with herself. Although she was reluctant to part with Jia Cong, she had made up her mind to wait patiently for him to return home.

She even secretly slipped a newly made sachet into Jia Cong's hand...

……

As everyone was filled with different emotions, the steward from the outer courtyard came in to say that guests had arrived to see off the Earl as he embarked on his campaign.

Yesterday, Jia Cong followed the palace gate etiquette and entered the palace to bid farewell to Emperor Jia Zhao. Given his age and official rank, being appointed to lead an army alone is a sign of the Emperor's gracious favor.

Therefore, it was no secret that he led his troops out of the city today, and it was only natural that the news would spread quickly in official circles, and naturally his colleagues would see him off.

Jia Cong went to the main hall of the outer courtyard and saw that five or six guests were already seated there, all of whom were relatives, friends, and colleagues from the officialdom.

One of the middle-aged eunuchs had a fair and handsome face, wore a blue brocade robe with gold floral patterns and a black gauze hat, and his demeanor was calm and composed.

It was Wang Dong, the chief supervisor of the Kangshun Prince's mansion. Jia Cong had distinguished himself at the Nanxi Literary Gathering, and from then on, he had a connection with the Kangshun Prince.

Over the years, he had maintained contact with Prince Kangshun and was the only person among the royal family and nobles with whom Jia Cong had a good relationship.

Even though he had a colleague relationship with Prince Ning, Li Chongrui, when he investigated the major case of the Water Conservancy Bureau in Jinling, their relationship was only superficial and far less intimate than that with Prince Kang.

Over the years, whenever he achieved something, Prince Kangshun, out of consideration for his status, would not personally visit him.

However, they all sent their trusted eunuch Wang Dong, which shows that they treated each other with great sincerity.

Wang Dong had visited the Jia family mansion several times over the years and was familiar with both the east and west mansions. He didn't offer Jia Cong any extra formalities, only smiling and saying a few words of farewell.

Another gift was presented to the general on his way to the campaign: a silver-plated saddle, exquisitely crafted and luxurious, quite fitting for the occasion.

……

After delivering the gifts on behalf of Prince Kangshun, Wang Dong didn't exchange many pleasantries with Jia Cong. He smiled and got up to take his leave, and Jia Cong escorted him all the way to the outside of the hall before he returned.

Among the guests were two close friends and classmates: Liu Xiaoping, who was now the registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial, and Cui Anzhi, who was waiting to take the imperial examination in the capital.

The two smiled and waved to Jia Cong, telling him to first greet the other guests who had come to see them off. They were all classmates and there was no need for too much formality.

Because Liu Xiaoping is now in officialdom, he could tell that the two people seeing off guests were of quite extraordinary status.

One of them was quite famous among the scholars of Shenjing. He was Li Congmian, a fifth-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy, whose official rank in the Hanlin Academy was second only to Ge Hongzheng and Jia Cong.

The other one, dressed in the robes of a fifth-rank official, was a complete stranger, but he was also the head of one of the Six Ministries, and his background was not insignificant.

Jia Cong knew that this fifth-rank official came from the Ministry of Works and was Hu Tai'an, the secretary of the Land Reserve Office.

He was a confidant of Li Dekang, the Minister of Works, and a proper colleague of Jia Cong.

Li Congmian and Hu Tai'an came with similar intentions: they were not only seeing each other off out of personal friendship as colleagues, but also on behalf of the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Works. More precisely, these two represented Ge Hongzheng, the head of the Hanlin Academy, and Li Dekang, the Minister of Works, making their presence all the more significant.

Jia Cong was both a scholar of the Hanlin Academy and the head of the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Works. He was a rare official who benefited from both civil and military affairs in these two major civil service departments.

If he leads the army to victory in this expedition, it will greatly enhance the prestige of both the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Works.

The outstanding civil officials were equally capable of military prowess, which had a profound and far-reaching impact on the civil and military power structure of the court. The balance between civil and military power shifted, making it difficult to shake the dominance of civil officials.

Ge Hongzheng, the Director of the Hanlin Academy, and Li Dekang, the Minister of Works, were both outstanding civil officials, each possessing great strategic acumen, profound thinking, and a long-term vision.

As the saying goes, governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; the same applies to the way civil and military officials conduct themselves...

……

Therefore, when Jia Cong leads his troops on this expedition, Ge Hongzheng and Li Dekang will definitely send people to see him off, in order to make Jia Cong's journey more impressive.

Under these circumstances, both Li Congmian and Hu Tai'an understood the implications. Even though they had some personal ties with Jia Cong, they only spoke polite, official platitudes.

Fortunately, polite words were easy to say and came out quickly and smoothly. The two exchanged pleasantries with Jia Cong and finished speaking in a short while.

He only sipped the tea a few times before rising with a smile to take his leave, and the steward saw him off at the gate.

Fortunately, no powerful military families came to see us off today. They don't have the same shady dealings as the civil officials; they only come to congratulate us after a victory.

The remaining two were Jia Cong's classmates and close friends, so they didn't need to be formal or pretentious when speaking, and the three of them talked much more casually.

Knowing that Jia Cong was about to embark on his campaign, Liu Xiaoping and Cui Anzhi agreed that they would meet again for a banquet and discussion after Jia Cong's triumphant return.

Jia Cong saw the two out of the main hall and casually asked, "Why is it that every time you two come here, Xiaoyu is alone? Now you're becoming more and more elusive."

Liu Xiaoping laughed and said, "When we came, we sent someone to tell him that we wanted to invite him to come along, but he made excuses that he had something to do, and we don't know what kind of mystery he was up to."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong was momentarily stunned. He thought of Miss Cai, who had changed her hairpin and hat, and couldn't help but smile.

…………

After seeing Liu Xiaoping and Cui Anzhi off, Jia Cong saw that there was not much time left before the auspicious hour. Thinking of going into the inner courtyard to say goodbye to his sisters, he prepared to leave the mansion.

Suddenly, the steward came to report that Abbot Yunqi of Xuantian Palace had come to visit. Jia Cong and Yunqi were old acquaintances.

Back then, when he was studying at Qingshan Academy, he stayed at Luoxia Villa in Xuantian Palace. Although it was arranged by Zhang Tianshi, it was actually Yunqi Daoren who took care of it.

A few days ago, when I visited Master Zhang at Xuantian Palace, Master Yunqi personally greeted me. The two of them have a long history of friendship.

Jia Cong hurriedly instructed the steward to invite the person into the main hall. After a short rest, a middle-aged Taoist priest entered the hall, followed by a young Taoist apprentice.

Upon seeing Jia Cong, he bowed and smiled, saying, "I heard that the Marquis of Weiyuan is about to go on an expedition, so I came to pay my respects. I'm glad I made it in time."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Daoist Master is a person who cultivates in seclusion, so it is really not appropriate for you to make the trip."

Yunqi Daoist laughed and said, "This humble Daoist cannot accept such a favor so casually. This humble Daoist was entrusted by Qingyi Zhenren to see off the Marquis of Weiyuan as he went on his expedition."

Jia Cong was slightly taken aback. Qingyi Zhenren was Qingluan's title. Why didn't she come herself, but sent Yunqi Daoren instead?

The Taoist priest from Yunqi smiled and said, "The day after tomorrow, on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, Taihe Palace will hold the Luotian Grand Ritual to pray for national peace and prosperity. Master has already entered the palace to make preparations."

The Pure and Elegant Immortal has just received an imperial appointment, so naturally he must assist in organizing the grand ceremony. He is currently busy in the palace and is unable to leave.

Therefore, yesterday she sent a message out of the palace, instructing me to deliver it to the Earl of Weiyuan on her behalf, along with a handwritten letter as a token of her respect.”

……

Yunqi took a wooden box from the young Taoist boy, and Jia Cong accepted it with both hands and opened it, finding inside a small booklet with an indigo cover.

Upon opening it, one sees dense writing inside, with delicate and upright handwriting, nimble and crisp strokes, exuding a heroic spirit, quite in line with Qingluan's temperament.

Yunqi Daoist said, "That day, when Marquis Weiyuan entered Xuantian Palace to visit his master, True Man Qingyi knew that the Marquis was about to go on a northern expedition, so he had already begun to prepare this item."

This booklet records the incense offerings and Taoist temples of the Zhengyi sect in various places, including the three passes north of the capital and several prefectures, as well as the incense offerings and Taoist temples in various towns along the nine borders of the northern frontier.

These Zhengyi temples have been established for many years, and the members are familiar with the local customs and have connections with people from all walks of life.

The Earl of Weiyuan is stationed with troops at the three northern passes. If the army needs to defend against an unprepared enemy, Zheng Yitong may be able to provide assistance.

In addition, Taoist temples in Ningxia, Datong, Xuanfu and other places have been going out to preach for several years in order to spread the Hongzheng doctrine, although the results have not been significant.

However, the various nomadic tribes outside the Great Wall had accumulated some merit and connections, which could be used to assist and guide the Weiyuan Earl in confronting the remnants of the Mongols.

After I return to the mountain today, I will send a message to my fellow disciples in the temples to inform them of Lord Bo's northern expedition.

"If Your Excellency requires the assistance of your fellow Daoist brothers, use the Nine Palaces Daoist Tablet bestowed upon you by Master Qingyi as proof, and your fellow Daoists will surely offer their full support."

……

Upon hearing Yunqi Daoist's words, Jia Cong was somewhat shocked. Qingluan's farewell gesture was indeed quite generous.

The Celestial Masters lineage of Longhu Mountain, due to their connection with the founding emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, has been revered by the imperial family of the Great Zhou Dynasty throughout the ages, and the Zhengyi sect has become tantamount to the state religion in the Great Zhou.

They opened Taoist temples in various states of the Great Zhou Dynasty, spread their doctrines, and collected incense offerings. The Zhengyi sect Taoists traveled among the common people and were highly respected.

The booklet that Qingluan gave her contained information about the Taoist temples in the three northern temples and the nine border towns, listing the vast network of relationships of the Zhengyi sect in the northern frontier.

These Taoist priests from various regions were almost all local celebrities or people with special skills.

The immense interpersonal potential contained in such a vast network of relationships, along with the unifying power of faith that comes with preaching, can be truly astonishing.

Jia Cong understood this much better than people of his time, and his shock and astonishment were naturally three times deeper than others.

He said, "I am deeply grateful for the profound kindness and friendship of Master Qingyi. Although we cannot meet now, I will definitely go into the mountain to express my sincere gratitude after I return..."

After completing the task entrusted to him, the Taoist priest from Yunqi bowed to Jia Cong and took his leave.

Holding the indigo-covered booklet, Jia Cong's mind was in turmoil; the information recorded in the booklet was far too unusual.

This involves the foundation and connections of the sect. Could Qingluan really take it upon herself to reveal all the details without reservation?

It was Qingluan who had already obtained Zhang Tianshi's approval when she was handling this matter, and Jia Cong could be certain that it was the latter.

Jia Cong recalled that since their first meeting at the Nanxi Literary Gathering, Zhang Yuzhen had shown him great favor and provided him with unwavering support and assistance.

This high regard and great kindness, though perplexing, was undeniably real, and he didn't know how he would ever repay this favor...

……

Jia Cong composed himself, put the book in his bosom, returned to the inner courtyard, changed into his armor, and then left the inner courtyard with Ellie.

Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters were escorted to the outer courtyard. The steward had received a message from Mushe beforehand, so he dismissed the servants in the outer courtyard in advance and left maids and servants to accompany them along the way.

Before Jia Cong and the others reached the East Corner Gate, they saw Jia Zheng, along with Bao Yu and Jia Huan, coming to see them off. They were accompanied by maids and wives, and Jia Lan was being led by the hand.

In his youthful vigor, Jia Cong led thousands of troops into battle, inheriting the heroic spirit of the Duke's lineage. At such a glorious moment, Jia Zheng would not forget to set an example for his sons.

When Jia Huan saw Jia Cong dressed in military attire, his armor gleaming and imposing, his eyes lit up. He longed to go forward and touch the armor, but ultimately dared not be presumptuous.

Although Jia Lan was young, his eyes lit up with admiration when he saw Jia Cong in his military uniform. It was likely that Li Wan had been giving him personal instruction every day.

Baoyu, however, had no interest in them. He was listless, and the bruises on his face from the finger marks had not yet faded. He was too embarrassed to face anyone.

When Jia Zheng took him to see Jia Cong off on his expedition, Bao Yu, still harboring a deep aversion to corrupt officials, was naturally filled with resentment and disgust.

However, because his father Jia Zheng was present, he dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous, otherwise he would anger his father and be publicly humiliated again. Baoyu also had his pride.

Therefore, he was extremely depressed, and even when he saw Daiyu and Baochai, he couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

Suddenly, he saw Ellie standing next to Jia Cong, tall and elegant, with a handsome and heroic air.
Although he didn't realize that Ellie had changed her hairpin and hat, he still reverted to his old ways, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

It wasn't until Jia Zheng noticed something, gave him a cold look, and snorted sharply that Baoyu hurriedly looked away.

……

The sisters and Jia Zheng and others escorted them all the way to the East Corner Gate, where they watched Jia Cong and Ai Li mount their horses, followed closely by dozens of personal guards on horseback.

Yu Xiuzhu couldn't help but glance at Ai Li next to Jia Cong a few more times, her eyes filled with confusion.

He said to Jiang Xiaoliu beside him, "Sixth Brother, the personal guards of the Earl are not from our group. They look rather unusual."

Look at that figure, he could be blown away by the wind. He doesn't look like a man at all, and his face looks familiar, like I've seen him somewhere before.

Jiang Xiaoliu glared at him and said, "Just shut up. It's none of your business who the Earl takes on his expedition."

"Stop staring like that, you'll get a sty. And don't mention this again, lest these kids gossip about it."

Yu Xiuzhu muttered, "Fine, I won't say, but he does look familiar. It's been so long, I can't quite remember. Could it be from Yafu Pass...?"

The group left the West Corner Gate and entered Ningrong Street. The west wind was blowing, the horses' hooves were clattering, the swords and spears were gleaming, and the armor was bright and clear.

Although it was only a few dozen people, their military bearing was still neat and their demeanor was solemn and imposing, attracting many passersby to stop and watch.

Suddenly, a man on horseback approached slowly, followed by a carriage. He called out Jia Cong's name in a somewhat hoarse voice... (End of Chapter)