Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Ningrong Street, Earl's Mansion, inner courtyard of the second gate.

At dawn, the sky was bright and clear. The garden was lush with vegetation, still shrouded in a thin mist, giving it a sense of ethereal tranquility.

Daiyu, accompanied by her maid Zijuan, walked lightly and gracefully along the garden path toward Yingchun Courtyard.

She wore a light blue embroidered collared jacket with scattered flowers on the upper body, an ivory white plum blossom skirt on the lower body, and a pomegranate red double-breasted satin cloak.

Her jet-black hair was adorned with a blue phoenix hairpin, which swayed gracefully in the morning light, occasionally flashing with dazzling brilliance.

Daiyu walked with a nimble gait, quite fast indeed, her feather cloak billowing gracefully in the morning breeze.

Zijuan was caught off guard and fell far behind Daiyu. She said, "Miss, you should walk slower. It's only just dawn, and there's dew on the ground. Be careful not to slip."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Do you think I'm still like before, panting if I walk too fast? Now that I can walk faster, I don't need to walk slowly. Second Sister will probably be up and waiting for me."

……

The Earl's Mansion, Yingchun Courtyard.

Yingchun got up early in the morning and had just finished washing up when Musk Moon skillfully and nimbly helped her comb her hair into a bun, add hairpins and flowers, and put on jewelry.

The maid Xiuju carried an ebony carved jewelry box and took out a gold phoenix hairpin with intricate beading and filigree. It was glittering, rich and exquisite, elegant and grand.

Musk Moon smiled and said, "Miss, this hairpin is a rare item. I saw you wear it during the New Year. Today is not a festival, so you should still use it."

Xiuju smiled and said, "Sister Musk Moon hasn't been here long and doesn't know your temperament. This hairpin was given to you by Third Master and isn't just for the New Year."

Whenever Third Master had a good event, whether it was passing the imperial examination, being promoted, achieving high rank, or returning home on an imperial mission, the girl would take it out and wear it.

"If you see the young lady wearing more of these items this year, tell her that Third Master is becoming increasingly successful, and yesterday those elderly female relatives came to offer their congratulations, so naturally the young lady should wear them."

Musk Moon laughed and said, "So that's why. Before I came here, I always heard that you love your brothers the most. Third Master is really lucky."

But what kind of official position is this Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Army? Is it higher than the Director of the Firearms Bureau? Yesterday, Xiao Hong came to report that the elderly women and relatives were doing very well.

……

As soon as Musk Moon finished speaking, Daiyu entered with a smile, followed by her maid Zijuan.

He laughed and said, "I have heard my third brother mention this before. The commander-in-chief of the army that is attacking the Mongols is the Grand Marshal, who is Marquis Liang Chengzong of Pingyuan. The deputy commander-in-chief is the second-ranking official in the army."

The third master of the Shi family is the commander-in-chief who led the campaign against the Mongols. I heard Xiangyun mention it in her spare time. The third master is now stationed in the capital, guarding the nine gates, and commanding tens of thousands of troops.

I suppose my third brother, now a deputy commander-in-chief, is probably in a similar position. But he's already quite pleased with himself; whether he's a high-ranking official or not doesn't matter, as long as he's safe and sound.

Daiyu walked behind Yingchun and looked at Yingchun in the mirror. Yingchun was radiant, beautiful and gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful. Her hair was adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin with pearls and filigree, which was dazzling.

She sighed, "Second Sister's gold phoenix hairpin with its inlaid pearls and filigree looks really good on her. It's a pity that Third Brother isn't home, so he can't have the chance to see it. It's such a shame."

Yingchun smiled and said, "He's seen this before, but what you said really resonates with me. Cong is already quite proud of himself. He should be content with what he has. I just want him to be safe and sound."

Yesterday, the third wife of the Shi family said that Cong Di only led two thousand soldiers, yet he fought against tens of thousands of remnant Mongol cavalry. When I heard this, my heart pounded, and my legs went weak.

To outsiders, going to war as a general and commanding thousands of troops seems incredibly prestigious, but they don't know how dangerous battles are. My great-grandfather's generation has heard a lot about such things.

Our great-grandfather is alright. Back then, when the old patriarch of Ningguo went to war, it is said that he almost lost his life. Fortunately, his trusted personal guards pulled him out of a pile of corpses.

Every time I think of the knife marks on Congdi Qing's rhinoceros armor, I feel terrified and restless. We're not around, so I have no idea what dangers he's encountered.

My older sister is useless. I don't want him to fight on the battlefield, risking his life for some achievement. I'd rather he be a scholar in the Hanlin Academy, working long hours and leaving early.

As the two were chatting, Xiangyun and Xing Xiuyan came in and said, "Although we all think so, how can a family keep someone like Third Brother so close?"

He's not like Baoyu; even if he doesn't want to, others will force him to travel the world. He's no ordinary person; naturally, he has an extraordinary destiny.

Daiyu couldn't help but smile and said, "Sister Yun, you've been acting strangely lately. Even your way of speaking is different. It actually makes a lot of sense. Could it be that you've really grown up?"

Shi Xiangyun blushed inexplicably and said, "I was just making things up on the spot, how could I possibly make sense of it? Although we all want him to be at home, it's ultimately no use."

"With just one imperial decree from the Emperor, he wouldn't be able to stay at home. Let's not waste any more time chatting. I heard there are quite a few guests today; the Old Madam will probably send someone to urge them on their way."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Since yesterday morning's court session, news has spread rapidly that Chen Ruichang was the main culprit for leaking secrets about the military depots, Chen Yi was impeached and removed from his post as governor, and the Earl of Weiyuan, Jia Cong, succeeded him as governor.

The nine gates of Shenjing were guarded more and more strictly. Except for the military's supply lines and information exchanges, ordinary people were prohibited from entering or leaving the city, and related news could no longer be transmitted outside the city.

The Duke of Qi's mansion received news from the morning court that the mansion was in chaos. It was said that a servant had ridden out of the city on horseback, but both the servant and the horse disappeared before reaching the city gate.

Three days ago, Liang Chengzong, the Grand Coordinator for the campaign against the Mongols, led 20,000 conscripted border troops to the Northern Three Passes and took command, greatly boosting the morale of the imperial army.

Under the current circumstances, it has become a consensus in the court that Chen Yi should not be appointed as deputy commander-in-chief; otherwise, the laws of the country and the hearts of the people will be hard to uphold, and the public's sense of justice will be further compromised.

Even with Emperor Liang Chengzong in command of the army, Emperor Jia Zhao remained vigilant, even though Chen Ruichang was only the second grandson of the Duke of Qi and could no longer be considered a direct descendant of the legitimate line.

The heir of the Duke of Qi's mansion is General Chen Ruiwen, and even if Chen Ruichang is convicted and sentenced to death with reprieve, it will not affect the continuation of the Duke of Qi's bloodline. However, there is always a chance of something going wrong.

As for whether Chen Yi should be dismissed from office and forced to retire due to his involvement in the crime, or demoted or stripped of his title as punishment, it was difficult to make a decision easily at the moment, and the court had not yet reached a conclusion.

As the deputy commander of the Northern Three Passes, even with the governor Liang Chengzong in charge, Chen Yi still had many confidants in the army, so it was essential to take preventative measures.

Therefore, before sunset yesterday, Emperor Jiazhao ordered Xu Kun, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to personally lead 500 Embroidered Uniform Guards out of the city at night to go to a distant prefecture to announce the appointment and dismissal of generals.

In contrast to the desolation of the Qi State Duke's Mansion, the Rong State Jia family was overjoyed. After the morning court session yesterday, nobles and relatives came one after another to offer their congratulations.

When Grandmother Jia heard this joyous news, she was overjoyed, caught off guard. It was certainly very respectable for her grandson to have climbed to the high position of deputy commander-in-chief at such a young age.

At the same time, he felt a little sad. Although there were quite a few members of the Jia family, no one could compare to Jia Cong's luck. Compared to him, Baoyu and Jia Lian were far too weak.

But this thought only lingered for a moment before he didn't take it too seriously, because Jia Cong's official position was so powerful that the Jia family's status was rising accordingly, and the other members of the family naturally received even more protection.

Grandmother Jia wasn't too concerned about how Jia Cong obtained the position of deputy commander-in-chief. The noble ladies said he could fight ten men against one and slaughter everyone in his path, which Grandmother Jia found amusing.

Yesterday, the noble relatives who had attended the court, including Niu Jizong of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Liu Fang of the Duke of Liguo's mansion, and officials close to Jia Cong, instructed their female relatives to come and offer their congratulations.

After the news spreads today, there will likely be even more guests coming to congratulate him. After all, for someone of Jia Cong's age to have climbed to such a military rank is no simple matter of having a bright future.

In officialdom, people follow the winds and trends; relatives and friends flatter and curry favor. This has always been the way of human relationships and social interactions. A bustling and prosperous household is considered a sign of good fortune.

Moreover, there is another reason why there will be many guests coming to congratulate us today. According to the court's custom, the emperor issued an edict yesterday morning, appointing Jia Cong as deputy commander-in-chief.

Because it involves the change of generals in the war, and in order to deal with the ever-changing war situation, such appointments must be made quickly. According to the court's custom, the imperial edict will most likely be issued today.

According to the established rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, as Jia Cong's rank as a general in the army was promoted, his civil service rank would also rise accordingly, and the rank of the latter would be even more noteworthy.

No matter how fierce the war against the Mongols may be, it will eventually come to an end in a year or two. The official rank of Jia Congwenxun will determine the future fortune of the Jia family in Rongguo...

…………

When Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters entered Rongqing Hall, only a short while later, Marquis Zhongjing, Lady Li, had already come to the mansion to offer her congratulations and then pulled Xiangyun aside for a chat.

She then smiled at Grandmother Jia and said, "Auntie, these past few days the threshold of your house has been worn down by countless visitors. Even I have to come and visit every day. It's truly a series of joyous occasions."

When I left this morning, my master told me that Cong-ge'er was about to take over the military post, and that this matter was urgent and that an imperial edict might be issued today.

"Now that Cong-ge'er is not at home, if the palace sends an imperial edict, and a male member of the household is needed to receive it on his behalf, it would be better to invite my elder brother over as soon as possible, so that someone can take charge."

Grandmother Jia said, “What you say makes sense. Right now, I’m the only old woman left in the family, and there are a bunch of young ladies and wives. If someone from the palace comes with an imperial decree, we won’t be able to handle the situation.”

"Didn't you say that Cong-ge'er fought against the remnants of the Mongols outside the city and has now won the battle and retreated? He's practically at his doorstep. Why haven't you come home yet? It would ease our worries." Upon hearing this, the sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others all looked at Lady Li, the Marquis of Zhongjing, with eyes full of anticipation, waiting to hear her answer about whether Jia Cong would return home.

Marquis Zhongjing, Lady Li, said, "Our master didn't go into details. He only said that Cong-ge'er has received the message and led his troops north to take up his post this morning. He will certainly not be able to return home easily."

"When one is away on campaign, one is often not in control of one's own destiny. As the ancients said, one can pass one's home three times without entering. Aunt, there's no need to worry too much. Cong-ge'er is a blessed child; he will surely return victorious."

Grandmother Jia was fine with it, but the sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, Tanchun, and Xiangyun were somewhat disappointed. However, they were relieved to know that Jia Cong had safely traveled north.

Grandmother Jia sent Lin Zhixiao's wife to the East Courtyard to deliver a message to see if Jia Zheng had gone to the yamen. If he was not at home, she sent a servant to ask him to ask for leave to come to the West Mansion to help with the social interactions.

As the sun rose slightly, maids kept coming to deliver messages outside the hall, and many female visitors came to the second gate. Soon, the sound of footsteps outside the hall became chaotic and the air was filled with the fragrance of perfume.

The curtain at the entrance was lifted, and many people entered, all of them housewives: Lady Zhang, wife of the Marquis of Jingyang; Lady Xu, wife of the Marquis of Chengyang; Lady Zou, wife of the Earl of Zhongcheng; and Lady Liu, wife of the eldest son of the Duke of Zhiguo…

……

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

These past few days, Jia Zheng has been feeling uneasy and restless because of Jia Yucun's matter. Although there has been no news from Jinling yet, it is expected to arrive in the next few days.

Just when he was feeling anxious and helpless, he suddenly heard that Jia Cong was fighting fiercely outside the city, defeating a large number of enemy soldiers with a surprising victory, killing thousands of elite Mongol cavalry. The news of the victory shocked the entire city.

Upon hearing the good news of Jia Cong's military achievements, Jia Zheng's worries were greatly alleviated. Although he himself was mired in the quagmire of officialdom, Jia Cong's outstanding abilities remained unchanged, and he had more support to turn things around.

This morning, he had intended to go to the yamen, but Zhao Li, an assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, came to visit and conveyed a message from Li Dekang, the Minister of Works, saying that Jia Cong might be summoned today and that Jia Zheng could stay at the mansion to take care of things.

The official was in high spirits, saying that news had come from the court the previous morning that Jia Cong would succeed as the deputy commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Mongols, and that his civil official rank would be promoted accordingly, with his fifth-rank official position guaranteed to be further advanced.

To have such a career at such a young age is truly astonishing. It is also said that after Jia Cong's triumphant return, he should not be forgotten to be invited to the celebratory banquet at the mansion.

……

Li Dekang specially sent someone to deliver a message, and Jia Zheng was able to understand the meaning. Zhao Li's warm congratulations and closeness made Jia Zheng's worries disappear instantly, and he was completely revitalized.

When Lady Wang heard that Jia Cong had achieved another military merit and been promoted to the high-ranking military position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief, while her elder brother was the dignified Military Governor of the Capital Garrison, he had not benefited at all from the war against the Mongols.

He was truly filled with extreme jealousy and resentment, feeling that this kid was too unlucky and was destined to bring misfortune upon everyone else, so that he would stand out while everyone else would suffer.

However, seeing Jia Zheng's delighted expression, Lady Wang, though narrow-minded and treacherous, did not lose her mind. She remembered that her husband was worried about being implicated by Jia Yucun because of Feng Yuan's case.

Now that Jia Cong has once again distinguished himself in battle and has been promoted to a higher official position, he has gained power. In official circles, people often look out for the Buddha rather than the monk, and considering Jia Cong's influence, they can avoid the master's punishment.

……

As Jia Zheng instructed the maid to change into formal attire, he said, "The West Mansion will most likely be receiving an imperial decree. It just so happens that today is a day of rest for the Imperial Academy. I will have Baoyu and Huan'er accompany me to the West Mansion to handle the arrangements."

Cong-ge'er's achievements and glory all stem from his diligent study of poetry and books in his youth, which laid a solid foundation for advancement, enabling him to achieve what he has today. Let them witness this firsthand so they can truly understand his success.

Lady Wang looked somewhat troubled and said, "Baoyu has been working hard at the Imperial Academy for five days, getting up early and working late every day. He finally has a day off, so why not let him rest at home first?"

"It won't be too late to have Cong-ge'er go and seek his advice after he returns."

Jia Zheng frowned and said, "This is exactly the time we want. Let them know the benefits of studying. With Baoyu's knowledge and understanding, do you think he has the face to ask Yi Cong for help?"

Hearing this, Lady Wang was extremely dissatisfied, but she dared not go too far against Jia Zheng. So she sent Qiuwen to tell Baoyu and Jia Huan to come to the main hall to wait.

……

East Road Courtyard, Baoyu Courtyard.

Since the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Baoyu and Jia Huan have been studying at the Imperial Academy. Although only a few days have passed, Baoyu has been filled with grief, indignation, and despair.

As Shi Xiangyun described, the coursework at the Imperial Academy was indeed extremely tedious and demanding. Moreover, as the imperial academy, the Imperial Academy was governed by strict rules and discipline, far superior to the private school of the Jia family.

Every day at dawn, Baoyu would get up and go out with Jia Zheng. One of them would go to the government office, and the other would go to the Imperial Academy to study. They had no time to spare, and Li Gui and the others dared not slack off in the slightest.

In the past, Baoyu never studied diligently at the private school; he was just playing around and wasting his time. Since he was the direct descendant of the Rongguo Mansion and had no ambition to study, Dairu was too lazy to care much about him.

Nowadays, entering the Imperial Academy is quite different. All students who enter the academy, whether they are children of nobles or commoners, must strictly abide by the rules and be careful in their words and deeds.

There were absolutely no mischievous children in private schools. On the surface, all the students were diligent in their studies, because if they violated the rules, they would not only be expelled from school and ruin their reputation, but also lose their chance at officialdom.

Even the sons of noble families could not bear this outcome. Failing to study was a minor matter; it was a matter of ruining the family's reputation. Even the rich and powerful would not dare to cross this line.

With its strict rules and heavy workload, the Imperial Academy was filled with the sound of students reciting their lessons every day, like a demonic chant. To Baoyu, the prestigious Imperial Academy was no different from a demon-suppressing iron tower or a scorching hell.

Fortunately, the instructors at the Imperial Academy all knew about his strange reputation for bearing a jade pendant and his anecdotes about the Imperial Clan Court. Out of consideration for Jia Cong, none of them bothered to make things difficult for him.

Even in such a muddled and confused state, every day after sunset when he returned home, Baoyu would still sigh deeply, feeling that his pure heart and deep emotions had been completely tainted and trampled upon.

Having finally endured a day off, I was finally able to relax for a day. I was thinking of timing my trip to the West Mansion so I could talk to my sisters whom I hadn't seen for many days.

……

Suddenly, Qiuwen came to deliver a message, saying that Third Master Cong of the Western Mansion had made great contributions in battle and was about to be promoted and ennobled. The palace was going to summon him, and the master asked Second Master and Third Master to go to the Western Mansion to handle the matter.

Upon hearing this, Baoyu was overcome with grief. He had no reason to be jealous of Jia Cong's promotion, but he himself was suffering mistreatment at the Imperial Academy, while Jia Cong was constantly publicizing his corrupt practices.

Wouldn't this only provoke the master to become even more insane, and he would surely devote himself to studying? Thinking of this, he was overwhelmed with grief and collapsed onto the bed, crying loudly, making the bed creak loudly.

Qiuwen was startled by Baoyu's behavior. She wondered why the Second Master was crying so hard. Could it be that he had fallen ill again?
Xi Ren frowned and said, "Qiu Wen, go and tell Third Master Huan that Second Master is alright. I will help Second Master get dressed and then take him to the main room to see Master."

After Qiuwen left, Baoyu, with tears streaming down his face, said, "Sister Xiren, why are people in this world so cold-hearted? I cannot love what I love, nor can I abandon what I hate in my life."

"They can only torment and abuse me every day, unable to find a single day of peace and happiness. I am also a direct descendant of the Duke of Rong, why should Jia Cong be allowed to act as he pleases while I suffer?"

When Xiren saw Baoyu start nagging again, his words sounding heart-wrenching, she was too exhausted to listen carefully. She just felt a headache coming on and decided to just let it go.

He said, "Second Master, please listen to my advice. The Master values ​​Third Master Cong's achievements and glory the most. The palace has issued an imperial decree for Third Master Cong. The Master values ​​this matter, which is why he asked you to go with him."

The master treats Third Master Cong like his own son. If he becomes more and more successful, it will be a good thing for Second Master. Even for the sake of the master, he will take care of Second Master in the future.

Besides, now that the master has spoken, how can the second master not go? The master has a short temper; if the second master doesn't come soon, he'll beat and scold him again. Wouldn't the second master lose face then?

Upon hearing the words "beating and scolding," Baoyu felt a sharp pain in his cheeks, and his mind instantly became clear. Seeing his state, Xiren quickly ordered a maid to bring hot water and help Baoyu change his clothes.

……

When Xiren pulled the dawdling Baoyu into the main room, she saw that Aunt Zhao and Jia Huan were already waiting there, and she couldn't help but sigh.

It is said that Third Master Huan has found a way to study diligently. Although he is a few years younger than Second Master Bao, he is already studying hard in prison. How can Second Master Bao continue like this...?

It's just that Third Master Huan isn't imprisoned, so why is he rushing back today to receive a summons from the palace? But this has nothing to do with Xiren, and she's too lazy to think about it.

But then Jia Huan laughed and said, "Yesterday, Third Sister sent someone to tell me that the prison was on holiday and that I should go home first. It turns out that this is such a good thing. Third Sister is so good at predicting things."

Jia Zheng laughed heartily upon hearing this, completely unaware of Bao Yu's dejected expression, and took his two sons to the West Mansion.

When the three arrived at the West Corner Gate of the West Mansion, they saw that many carriages were already parked in the alley, mostly belonging to nobles and relatives who were there to celebrate.

At the side gate, people were constantly coming and going, all of them servants and stewards from various households who came to deliver gifts. They all bowed respectfully to Jia Zheng.

Jia Huan's eyes lit up, while Bao Yu frowned. Jia Zheng was overjoyed, for his father had once been a man of great achievements and a bustling household, and now that glory had returned.

He was feeling relieved and smug when he saw a luxurious car drive into Ningrong Street. It was drawn by three horses, had a grand and imposing presence, and was painted entirely in bright yellow.

The carriage was decorated with a golden dome, and the curtains and canopies were all made of bright yellow, with five-clawed golden dragon patterns embroidered on the outside. Behind the carriage followed the imperial guards cavalry in bright armor, their horses' hooves thundering, making them look quite majestic.

Jia Zheng's heart skipped a beat; wasn't this the very same imperial carriage summoning the emperor from the palace...? (End of Chapter)