The Red Chamber: Starting from Saving Xue Baochai

Chapter 88: Meeting Jia Yuanchun for the First Time in the Palace

Lady Jia was the wife of a super-rank duke, Lady Xing was a first-rank lady with an imperial title, and Lady Wang was a fifth-rank concubine.

As for Youshi and Qin Keqing, before the accident of Jia Zhen and his son, they were respectively the third-rank lady and the fifth-rank concubine. Now that the Ning Mansion has been stripped of their titles, they have become commoners.

If Baochai were granted the third-rank imperial decree, she would be only lower than Lady Jia and Lady Xing, and two ranks higher than her aunt Lady Wang.

Mrs. Wang felt particularly unhappy at this moment. In the blink of an eye, her niece would surpass her in the rank of imperial edict.

Not only that, even in terms of power in the rear house, Lady Wang is still above Lady Jia, while Baochai becomes the only mistress as soon as she enters the Shen Mansion.

Although the Shen Mansion is still far from being comparable to the Rongguo Mansion, the gap between the past and the present is enough to make Mrs. Wang feel a little unbalanced.

Wang Xifeng felt this even more. She had to flatter and scheme every day to barely get the position of housekeeper, while Bao Yatou did nothing, but just because she met Yuan Ge'er, she was suddenly honored and noble. It really is true that everyone has their own fate. When you compare yourself with others, you will get angry.
At this time, even Jia's mother felt a little emotional and said in a clear voice: "I have lived for decades, and I have not seen many people as outstanding as Yuan'er."

Grandmother Jia had already reserved her words. The young man won the title of champion in martial arts before he was even twenty, and was promoted to the third rank in just two months. In the old lady's mind, perhaps only the young Duke of the country could be compared to him.

The eyes of the little girls Tanchun, Yingchun and Xichun were also shining at this moment. That big brother Shen really surprised them a lot recently.

After expressing her feelings, Jia's mother smiled again. It was always something to be happy about when there were capable relatives among them.

"How are the preparations for Yuan'er and Bao'er's wedding going? Is there anything missing from the concubine's side? Just tell Feng Lazi, and the West Mansion will do its best to help."

"Thank you for your concern, old lady." Aunt Xue replied with a smile, "Bao girl, everything is ready, just waiting for the day to come."

"That's good." Grandmother Jia looked at Youshi and Qin Keqing again and asked, "You are the ones who are helping with the preparations at the Shen residence, right? Is there anything I can help with?"

Youshi said, "In reply to the old lady, Master Yuan has entrusted us with such an important matter, so Keqing and I dare not slack off. We have prepared everything. When the master returns home, we will ask him if there is anything else that needs to be purchased."

Hearing this, Jia's mother felt relieved and said with a smile, "Good! You are all capable of doing things."

Qianqing Palace, Imperial Study.

Shen Yuan was talking with Emperor Yuanzhen when he saw a woman in palace dress walking in slowly. After taking a quick look, he was stunned.

Judging from her attire, she didn't look particularly luxurious, nor did she look like an ordinary palace maid. She had a fair and plump face, and her eyebrows and eyes resembled Baochai.
The woman entered the room, paused her light steps, bowed, lowered her eyes slightly, and said in a delicate voice: "The Imperial Concubine asked me to bring you bird's nest porridge for your majesty to enjoy."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhen did not raise his eyes to look, but simply replied: "Put it down first, I am not hungry yet."

After saying that, Dai Quan took the porcelain cup.

The woman in palace dress raised her eyes slightly, glanced at Emperor Yuan Zhen, then glanced at Shen Yuan beside her, and retreated reluctantly.

After leaving the imperial study, the woman's eyes were dim and she sighed deeply in her heart.

This woman was none other than Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of Rongguo Mansion. At this time, she was serving as a female historian beside Concubine Wu in the palace.

Emperor Yuanzhen's queen, Liu, died early, and he never appointed another queen after that, leaving Concubine Wu to help manage the harem.

Concubine Wu had been childless for many years, and Concubine Zhou was the favored concubine in the harem.

Concubine Wu was quite worried about her future. Since she could not be crowned as queen and had no children to rely on, it would be impossible for her to become empress dowager in the future.

If Emperor Yuanzhen died one day, her fate would be predictable and she would definitely not survive.

Therefore, Concubine Wu created opportunities for her female historian, hoping to make Yuanchun catch the emperor's eye and find a support for her future.

As for Yuanchun, she actually didn't care about the status of a noble lady or a royal concubine. Over the years, what she felt most in the palace was desolation and loneliness.

Some people say that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea, and this palace is like an endless abyss. But even if you don't want to, what can you do?

She carries the hopes of the Jia family, and Concubine Wu has also taken special care of her over the years. How can the kind-hearted Yuanchun bear to shatter their hopes, even though she knows that this hope is just their fantasy?

Maybe this is her fate.
In the imperial study, Emperor Yuanzhen and Shen Yuan talked about some ideas on reorganizing the Beijing camp.

After the two finished chatting, the emperor looked at the porcelain cup on the imperial table and said to Shen Yuan: "Huaizhong, eat something with me."

Shen Yuan did not delay, and said with gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Afterwards, the emperor and his ministers shared the bowl of bird's nest porridge. It must be said that the food in the palace was quite delicious.

After eating, Shen Yuan took his leave.

On the way out of the palace, my mind was constantly thinking about the beautiful figure in palace dress, with a myriad of thoughts in my mind.

He could guess the identity of this woman. She appeared in the deep palace, and her eyes and eyebrows were somewhat similar to Baochai. It was impossible for there to be another person.

It seems that Yuanchun has not yet caught the emperor's eye. If you think about it, you can understand the reason.

Firstly, the emperor was focused on state affairs and had no intention of expanding his harem; secondly, the emperor did not want to be too closely associated with military exploits.

Even if Yuanchun was reluctantly chosen as a concubine, it would most likely end in tragedy, just like in the original novel.

All the men in the Jia family died? A woman was left to shoulder the family's rise and fall, and was deeply distressed.

Moreover, if Yuanchun were to be made a concubine, some of the dissolute people in the Rong Mansion would become arrogant, which would only accelerate the demise of the Jia family.

Shen Yuan doesn't care about this matter for the time being. He can't intervene now. However, deep down, he still hopes that Yuanchun can have a good ending.

After leaving the palace, Shen Yuan did not go directly back to the Shen Mansion, but went to the New Army Guard Camp in the southern suburbs.

When the emperor's reward came down, he had to distribute the money personally. It was not a good thing for him to just sit back and do nothing.

No matter what era it is, giving subordinates promotions and salary increases is always the best time to accumulate prestige. How can you delegate it to others?

Just as the imperial edict promoted Shen Yuan, Feng Ziying, Jiang Fan, Liu Xianglian and Zhao Huan, this was the emperor's favor to the five of them, and they would naturally be grateful to the emperor.

Similarly, the emperor delegated the power to select and appoint junior officers in the New Army to Shen Yuan, hoping that Shen Yuan would show favor to his subordinates, accumulate prestige, and be more convenient to lead the army.

In the distribution of the reward money, Shen Yuan did not take a penny. Feng Ziying, Jiang Fan and four others followed suit and also did not take a penny.

This also raised the status of Shen Yuan and others in the hearts of the soldiers.

In addition, Shen Yuan drew up a list of selected officers based on their military merits, including five thousand-commanders, ten deputy thousand-commanders, fifty centurions, more than a hundred trial centurions, and several general flags and small flags.

Those who should be promoted will be promoted, and those who should be promoted will be promoted. Through this bandit suppression campaign, the organizational structure of the new military guard will be improved.

By the time they finished all this, it was already late at night, but the military camp was brightly lit. Except for the soldiers on duty, the rest of the soldiers were celebrating around the bonfire.

In the commander's tent, Feng Ziying said to Shen Yuan, "Sir, let's go out too."

"Okay." Shen Yuan said cheerfully, "Tonight, let's have a few drinks with our brothers and celebrate the victory of the New Army Guard."

That night, everyone drank recklessly and stayed awake all night.
There are two more chapters today, which will be released in the afternoon. Please subscribe.



(End of this chapter)