Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 2: The Door Lintel of Ningguo Mansion
……

"Brother Rong, you don't have to serve her medicine every day. The college entrance examination will be held in April. Studying is the most important thing now. As for that beast... your master will naturally have someone to serve him, so don't worry."

Jia Jing was very satisfied with Jia Rong's filial piety, but he would never allow Jia Rong to delay his studies because of this!
Today, the dynasty has enjoyed peace for a hundred years, with no internal or external worries. In this prosperous era, weapons and horses have long been stored in warehouses and released into the mountains. Coupled with the dynasty's unique system of hereditary succession, the decline of military honors is inevitable.

Many noble families have already seen this and are doing their best to train their younger generations to study for the imperial examinations.

The Ningguo Mansion was undoubtedly at the forefront in this regard. Jia Jing, who was smart and studious since childhood, was the first to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi as an inherited noble.

It can be said that the current Ningguo Mansion is of extremely high status, being both a family of meritorious service and a family of scholars. However, such a huge mansion is somewhat weak in support of only one Jinshi, Jia Jing. It needs younger generations to stand up and guard this foundation in order to truly build the Ning Mansion into a family of scholars.

It is obvious that Jia Zhen cannot be relied upon.

The future hope of Ningguo Mansion is Jia Rong!

"Rong'er, the future of Ningguo Mansion depends on you. You must not slack off!" Jia Jing looked at Jia Rong and said earnestly.

Jia Rong felt some pressure.

But it's not particularly big.

After all, he has lived two lives, and his knowledge and memory are far superior to those of today's scholars. Moreover, he has passed the boy's examination with the first place in the county examination and the second place in the prefectural examination. According to past practice, he will definitely pass the academy examination with such results. It is mainly a matter of what grade he gets.

Only candidates who ranked first or second in the academy examination could fill the quota for students and take part in the autumn examination two years later.

"Don't worry, Master. I will go back to the academy to study tomorrow."

"Good! Good!"

Jia Jing held his beard and smiled. He knew Jia Rong's talent and hard work. As long as he could persist, he would become a great man in the future.

At this time, Lai Er, the chief steward of Ning Mansion, came running over, bowed first, and then said carefully: "Master, Mr. Qin, the director of the Ministry of Works, is here to visit and is waiting for you in the hall."

Jia Jing frowned when he heard this.

Old Qinye has an adopted daughter who has been charming and graceful since childhood. She is about the same age as Jia Rong. The last time Old Qinye came to the mansion, he mentioned her briefly, as if he wanted to become a relative of Jia Rong. However, he thought that this would delay Jia Rong's studies, so he declined.

Of course, there is another reason that must be mentioned. He is now the Minister of War and a member of a Duke's family. He looks down on Qin Ye's adopted daughter.

What status?
You dare to come to the Duke’s Mansion to propose marriage?

"Just say I'm busy with official duties and can't meet you."

Jia Jing waved his hand indifferently.

"Yes."

When Lai Er saw Jia Jing's attitude, he immediately understood what he meant and hurried out to pass on the message.

As the saying goes, the prime minister is in front of a seventh-rank official. Although Jia Jing has not yet reached the position of prime minister, he is also the Minister of War and a member of the Duke's family. Lai Er, as the chief steward of the mansion, how could he look down on a mere seventh-rank official? Therefore, he was a little impolite when he went back to pass on the message.

"Our master is busy with official business, so you should go back for now. Come back another day if you have anything else!" Lai Er's tone was full of impatience.

Qin Ye's face turned dark.

He naturally knew that the gate to the Duke's Mansion was very high and difficult to enter. The reason why he came to inquire many times was because Jia Zhen, the master of the Ning Mansion, liked his daughter very much and intended to become a relative of her.

"Well, I want to meet Master Zhen from your house."

Lai Er said with a fake smile, "That's even more unfortunate. Master Zhen did something wrong the other day and was severely beaten by Grandpa. I'm afraid it's inconvenient for us to meet now."

Because Jia Zhen was often beaten by the old master and was bedridden for years, he actually had no authority in the Ningguo Mansion.

Old Qinye: “…”

"Come here, see the guests off!"

Ignoring Lao Qinye's silence, Lai Er unceremoniously ordered him to leave.

Old Qinye gritted his teeth, took out twenty taels of silver from his sleeve, and said with a smile while suppressing his anger: "I am familiar with Master Zhen of your mansion, so I should go and visit him. I hope Steward Lai will help me."

"Hmm?" Lai Er shook the silver in his hand and forced a smile. "If that's the case, I'll go and report it even if I'm scolded. As for whether Master Zhen will see you, I can't guarantee it."

"Thank you very much."

Old Qinye hurriedly bowed.

Lai Er chuckled and put the silver into his sleeve, then went outside to find a servant to pass on the message, as he didn't dare to go in person.

There are rumors that Master Zhen coughs all night long and may have tuberculosis!

"Liu San, go to the master's room and tell him that Qin Ye, the engineer, is here to visit and is waiting for him in the hall."

"what?"

Liu San had a sad face and didn't want to go at all, but Lai Er was following him and staring at him, so he had no choice but to go in.

"Old, master..."

"Ahem, what's going on?"

Liu San couldn't help but shudder, and stepped back a little without making a sound: "My Lord..."

"Ahem, who are you talking to from such a distance? Come here, ahem!"

Liu San's face turned pale, and he took two trembling steps forward: "Master, the Architect Qin Ye is here to visit you, do you want to see him or not?"

Jia Zhen, who was lying on the ground dying, suddenly brightened up and his coughing problem was much better: "Why don't you invite someone over quickly!"

"Yes, yes! I will go and invite you right away."

When Liu Sanru was pardoned, he ran away as fast as a rabbit.

Lai Erdeng was standing at the door. Seeing Liu San rushing out like a gust of wind, he immediately scolded him with a stern face: "How can you be so flustered? If outsiders see you, they will think that all the servants in the Duke's Mansion are like you..."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Liu San was panting and ran so fast that he couldn't help coughing twice.

Lai Er was immediately frightened and quickly turned around and ran two steps away from Liu San, "You, you, you, just stand there and answer, don't come over!"

"What did the master say?"

Liu San was also frightened by his sudden cough. He felt more and more uncomfortable in his throat and couldn't help coughing.

"Ahem, ahem, the master said hurry up, ahem, hurry up and invite people over..."

Lai Er covered his mouth and nose and said, "Then go and get someone. I have something urgent to do over there, so I'll go over first!"

After saying this, without waiting for Liu San to react, he ran out of Jia Zhen's yard like a gust of wind.

It's definitely tuberculosis!

It is terrible!

Do you want to go home and avoid the disease when you are sick?
Without mentioning what Lai Er thought, Liu San timidly invited Lao Qinye into Jia Zhen's courtyard, but he dared not go in again. He only whispered at the door: "Our master is inside, please go in, sir."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The coughing sound coming from inside made Old Qinye frown a little. At his age, he was actually very taboo to come into contact with coughing patients. But for the sake of his daughter being able to enter the Duke's Mansion, he didn't care about much else. He gritted his teeth and pushed the door open.

The room inside was a little dark.
A strong smell of medicine wafts into the air.

Jia Zhen leaned on the bed with a disgusted look on his face.

"Ahem, Brother Qin is here, ahem, please come and sit down, let's have a good chat, ahem, ahem..."

Qin Ye: “…”

(End of this chapter)