Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 194 Ye Xiang: Fortunately, I was well prepared!

……

Inner study in Prime Minister Ye’s residence.

Wei Shengfu, Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Pei Zhen, Minister of the Supreme Court, He Qiuyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and several others sat together, all with solemn expressions.

half an hour.

Wei Shengfu frowned and asked, "Lord Ye, what does the emperor mean today? Is he going to give up his power?"

Logically speaking, it's time to delegate power.

Everyone looked up at Ye Xiang who was drinking tea.

"It's hard to say." Ye Xiang put down the teacup and said calmly, "Have you heard about the recent incident in which the Emperor Taizong reorganized the Jinyiwei?"

Everyone was shocked.

"heard!"

"The Jinyiwei is still recruiting soldiers on a large scale."

"Since the emperor is willing to give up power, why does he want to reorganize the Jinyiwei? Could it be..."

Ye Gao waved his hand and said, "Don't make random guesses. As subjects, we only need to abide by our duties and we can remain unchanged in the face of all changes."

Everyone was stunned.

"It's Gaoming. It's Gaoming."

"What a good way to deal with all kinds of changes by remaining unchanged. Elder Ye's move is very appropriate."

"I admire you."

There was a burst of compliments from everyone.

Ye Xiang smiled and said, "Okay, if you have nothing else to do, go get busy. I'm old and can't compare to you guys. You're all so energetic, I need to take a break."

The Minister He Qiuyuan quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Prime Minister Ye has made great contributions and devoted himself to the country. We admire him."

"I will take my leave first..."

After a while, Ye Xiang was the only one left in the huge study room.

He closed his eyes and thought for a while, then slowly picked up the pen and wrote a line of small words.

"Master, the eldest lady is back." The old butler walked in and said cautiously.

"Ask her to come in."

After a while, a bright girl walked into the study, stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile: "Dad, I'm back."

Ye Xiang held his beard and smiled: "Lian'er finally remembered to come back to see Daddy. Come on, tell Daddy, how is studying in the Imperial College? Is anyone bullying you?"

"The Imperial College is great and no one bullies me. Dad, this is the article I wrote. Please take a look." Ye Lian took out a thick stack of articles from behind.

Ye Xiang quickly took it and looked at each picture carefully. Ye Lian stood beside him, saying nothing.

half an hour.

"Okay, okay!"

Ye Xiang was overjoyed, and then sighed: "If those bastard brothers of yours were half as capable as you, I would be happy to die."

"What did Daddy say!"

Ye Lian stamped her feet and complained.

"Haha, I won't say anything more."

Ye Xiang quickly stopped talking about the topic.

Ye Lian said, "I heard that my second brother came to Beijing, why didn't I see him?"

Ye Xiang: "Ahem, he..."

Ye Lian: "What's wrong?"

Ye Xiang: "I just beat him up yesterday and he is lying on the sickbed now. You don't have to pay attention to him."

Ye Lian: “…”

"Dad, what happened to my second brother? Did you beat him again?"

"Humph!" Ye Xiang said coldly, "What else can I do! You are already in your twenties, and you can't even write a decent article. It's a pity that I have been wise all my life, but my sons are all idiots!"

Ye Lian hurriedly comforted him, "Dad, calm down. My second brother is already very good. Although he is not good at studying, he is filial and obedient. Grandma often praises him at home."

"Be filial and obedient, hum!"

"What is the use!"

"I need someone from the Ye family to enter the court and inherit my... Oh, forget it! I won't say more."

The more he talked, the angrier he got.

Fortunately, I was prepared.

"Lian'er."

"Daddy, what's the matter?"

Ye Xiang smiled and said, "Your father has never interfered with your studies at the Imperial College. Do you have any like-minded friends?"

"No, no." Ye Lian hurriedly shook her head and said, "I study alone and keep to myself. I don't have any like-minded friends."

"Oh? I don't believe it." Ye Xiang smiled and said, "I have to ask your uncle."

"Daddy!"

Ye Lian stamped her feet anxiously.

Ye Xiang laughed.

"Don't worry, Daddy won't care."

"Just go to the Imperial College, but there is one thing: the person who shares the same ideals as you must be outstanding, at least he must be able to pass the imperial examination. As for family background, it is not important. We in the Ye family don't care about that."

Ye Lian lowered her head and rubbed the corner of her clothes with her fingers.

"Daddy, what are you talking about!"

"I ignore you!"

There will be no problem in passing the imperial examination.

Even if you become a Jinshi, it’s not difficult!
……

Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong's study.

Although it is the annual holiday, reading is still the most important thing for Jia Rong.

The number of articles per day has increased to three, in order to make every effort to prepare for next year's provincial examination.

"Master!"

Qingwen ran in hurriedly.

"Slow down, what's going on?"

Qingwen held an invitation and said excitedly, "It's from Prince Yongjing."

Jia Rong was stunned.

"who?"

Qingwen said, "Prince Yongjing."

As he said this, he handed the invitation to Jia Rong.

Jia Rong opened it and took a quick look.

It turned out to be a poetry gathering organized by the Second Prince, Prince Yongjing, and all the guests were princes and nobles from Kyoto. Jia Rong didn't want to attend any poetry gathering, but he still had to give face to the prince.

So I accepted the invitation.

The poetry gathering will be held on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month in the garden of Prince Yongjing's mansion. There is still plenty of time and there is no rush.

Just after I received the invitation, someone came outside and said that someone was applying for the position of a mistress in my house.

Jia Rong was delighted.

Since the announcement of "Want Talents", no one has come to apply for the job.

The main reason is that the conditions are a bit harsh.

First of all, there are not many female gentlemen in this industry.

Secondly, one must have a clean family background and be proficient in the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

There are not many men like this, and even fewer women.

"Please come quickly."

"Where are you going?"

"Just go to Luoyuxuan."

Luoyuxuan was a side courtyard that had just been cleaned before the New Year, and it was also where Jia Rong met guests.

Luoyu Pavilion.

Jia Rong met the woman who came to apply for the job.

The first feeling is:

too young.

I feel it is more appropriate for her to be Xichun's sister.

And her clothing and hairstyle are quite different from those of ordinary women.

"I've met the eldest son."

"No need to be polite, young lady. Please take a seat."

"Thank you."

The woman sat down gracefully and said with a smile: "I came to Beijing recently and heard that the mansion wanted to hire a female teacher. I don't know my own abilities, but I want to give it a try." "No problem."

Jia Rong also sat down and said with a smile, "May I ask where is the fairyland, young lady?"

The woman said, "Gusu."

Jia Rong said, "It's a good place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery."

"I wonder if the girl's home..."

Woman: "No father, no mother, no relatives."

Jia Rong: “…”

This is really...

The woman went on to explain, "My ancestor, Li Huanying, was once the Minister of Rites. Later, he offended the Emperor by speaking out and was demoted to the post of Grain Commissioner of Yunnan."

"So you are the descendant of a loyal minister. I'm sorry for my disrespect." Jia Rong bowed.

The woman hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"Sir, please don't do that. I am just a poor person with no family to rely on. How can I be worthy of being a loyal minister?"

"Miss Li, please take a seat." Jia Rong smiled faintly and said, "Please forgive me for my rudeness. May I ask if Miss Li has any documents to prove her background?"

The woman was prepared. She took out a document from her sleeve and handed it to Jia Rong, saying, "Of course I have it. Please take a look, young master."

Jia Rong took the book and looked at it carefully. It turned out to be the granddaughter of Li Huanying, who served as the Minister of Rites during the Jingran period. Her name was Li Yanyu.

She could be considered a woman from a scholarly family. As such, her background was clean and there was no problem.

Of course, Jia Rong still needs to investigate further to see if it is true.

But that’s another story.

After reading it, Jia Rong returned the document to Miss Li and said with a smile, "I still need to ask you two questions. You can stay only if you can answer them. As for what conditions Miss Li has, just tell me."

Li Yanyu put away the documents and said with a smile, "Sir, please give us the questions."

Jia Rong asked, "Young lady, have you read all the Four Books and Five Classics?"

Li Yanyu nodded: "I've read it a few times."

Jia Rong thought about it and asked a question: "Why is education abolished?"

Li Yanyu pondered for a moment, "To prohibit something after it has started, to learn after a certain period of time, to teach others without consideration, to study alone without a friend, to have friends who disobey the teacher, to have friends who abandon the study, these six are the reasons why education is useless."

"Not bad!"

Jia Rong clapped his hands and laughed, "There is no need to ask the next question. I will now formally hire Miss Li as my Ningguo Mansion's teacher."

This question is extremely biased. It is a question from the "Book of Rites". If you are not familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics and have a thorough understanding of them, it is impossible to answer it in a short time.

Therefore, Jia Rong became even more certain that Li Yanyu must be a girl from a scholarly family, otherwise Duan Ran would not have such an opinion.

Li Yanyu's eyes lit up.

Teachers have a much higher status than female teachers and are respected.

"Thank you, eldest son."

"Miss Li, you are too polite." Jia Rong said with a smile, "I wonder what Miss Li wants? Please feel free to ask. I will definitely not refuse anything I can agree to."

Li Yanyu said: "All I need is a small, quiet courtyard, three vegetarian meals a day, nothing else."

"Oh? Miss Li is a vegetarian?"

"Well, to be honest, young master, I have been a nun since I was young, and I have been practicing Buddhism with my hair uncut. My Buddhist name is Miaoyu."

Jia Rong: “…”

Miaoyu: "What's wrong, sir?"

Jia Rong: "Uh, nothing."

"There is one thing I need to make clear to Miss Li. You must keep your practice of Buddhism with your hair untied auspiciously a secret as much as possible. Also, you are not allowed to teach our girl any books or ideas related to Buddhism or Taoism."

Miaoyu smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. I know."

Now that the two had reached an agreement, Jia Rong ordered someone to temporarily clean up a room in the east wing, and Miaoyu moved in with two maids and a servant.

As it is almost the end of the year, we have decided not to teach this year but to start teaching in the early spring of next year.

Xichun was somewhat reluctant at first, but after meeting Miaoyu a few times and gradually becoming familiar with her, she was no longer so averse and went to pay her respects to her teacher early every day.

Miaoyu also liked Xichun very much. The more they talked, the closer they became. They felt that they had met too late. They even abandoned the titles of teacher and student and called each other sisters.

This is something to talk about later, let’s not mention it for now.

Ever since Jia Rong went to see Lin Daiyu and was driven out that day, he never went there again, and Daiyu never came over either.

Jia Rong had been feeling very uncomfortable these past two days, and even his writing had been difficult.

No, I have to provoke him.

Thinking of this, Jia Rong left his half-written article and walked towards Rongguo Mansion.

After walking a few steps, Jia Rong suddenly remembered that someone seemed to have said that Master Zheng was ill a few days ago, so he called Ping'er over and asked, "I heard that the second master of the West Mansion is ill?"

Ping Erh said, "Yes, I heard that Baoyu made her sick because of him. The rumors have been spreading badly these days."

"Oh?" Jia Rong became interested: "How is it unpleasant to listen to?"

Ping'er blushed slightly: "I heard that Master Bao played with a classmate named Qin, and was caught by the second master of the West Mansion, and then..."

Jia Rong understood immediately.

These two are really getting together again.

It seems that no matter what happens, Baoyu's temperament will not change. Even though he has fallen to the same level as Jia Huan, his true nature cannot be changed.

"OK!"

"What are you laughing at, sir? What's good?"

Jia Rong: "Baoyu is good at playing."

Ping Erh said angrily, "Master, you are so dishonest!"

Jia Rong pulled Ping Er closer, put his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, "Don't forget, you have to help me bathe tonight."

Ping Er turned away and stood on the other side of the table: "No, I'm very busy tonight."

Jia Rong: "What are you busy with?"

Ping'er said seriously, "It's almost the end of the year, and we have to settle the accounts. There are also the maids and servants in our courtyard, the bonuses that should be distributed, the clothes that should be made, the items that should be added to the master's room, and the old items that should be discarded..."

Jia Rong interrupted, "Can't we do this during the day? Must we do it at night?"

Ping Er: “Yeah!”

Jia Rong nodded and praised: "Very good! You are indeed very capable. I didn't make a mistake in you."

"Keep working on it haha."

"I'll give you a red envelope for the New Year."

Ping'er: "..."

……

Jia Rong went to the storehouse, took out a ginseng, put it in a brocade box, and then came to Rongguo Mansion.

When the maids and wives in the mansion saw Jia Rong, they all came forward with a smile and bowed, calling him "Master Rong" one after another. They were three times more enthusiastic than the maids in the East Palace.

Jia Rong couldn't help but sigh that power is really a good thing.

"Hey, Rong brother."

A young girl saw Jia Rong, her eyes lit up slightly, and she trotted over with her skirt lifted.

"Miss Xing."

Jia Rong took two steps forward and bowed slightly.

Xing Xiuyan combed her sideburns and said with a smile, "How come you have time to come here and play today?"

Jia Rong waved his hand and said, "I heard that the second master is ill. I brought a piece of old mountain ginseng to visit him and wish him a speedy recovery."

Xing Xiuyan said: "The second master has recently moved to the back yard. I will take you there."

Jia Rong really didn't know where Jia Zheng had moved to, so he smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Xing."

"Brother Rong, you're welcome."

"This way."

Xing Xiuyan led the way confidently in front.

After moving several times, Master Zheng's courtyard had moved to the northeastern corner, almost next to Lixiang Courtyard. There was also a corner gate next to it. Many servants were coming in and out. When they saw Jia Rong coming, they dropped what they were doing and ran over to pay their respects.

"Greetings to the master."

"May the Lord be blessed with good health."

Jia Rong nodded slightly, and soon they arrived at Jia Zheng's courtyard.

There were two bare sycamore trees in the yard, several flower pots leaning in the corners, dead branches and leaves covering the ground, and even spider webs on the beams at the door, swaying in the cold wind.

How bleak.

The two of them did not stay in the yard for long and went straight forward.

There was no maid guarding the door, so Jia Rong pushed the door open and went in.

An unpleasant smell of medicine wafted into my nose.

This was followed by a cough.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough."

……

……

(End of this chapter)