Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 109: Headwinds and Tides
Rongguo Mansion,
After more than a month of recuperation, Lady Jia's complexion has finally improved. When she has gathered some energy, she hears the bad news from the court.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has decided not to make peace with the Northern Barbarians, and the old Duke Rong, who is in the Northern Barbarians, has no chance of survival. There is a high probability that he will be sacrificed by the barbarians when they march south to boost their morale.

The imperial physician from the palace came to look after her for a few days and comforted Lady Jia for a few days. As soon as he left, Lady Jia sent a message to Jia Zheng, asking him to come and see her as soon as possible.

Jia Zheng entered Rongqing Hall and saw that his mother's face was pale and her eyes were dull. He felt a pain in his heart and stepped forward to ask, "Is there anything I can tell you?"

When Jia Zheng lay on his sickbed, Jia's mother slowly opened her mouth and asked, "Is there any news about your brother?"

Jia Zheng sighed, "Not yet. We have asked several times, but they always forbid us to visit."

Grandmother Jia closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, then asked, "Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, why is Zhen'er not here? Shouldn't he go to the ancestral temple to pay homage?"

Jia Zheng said, "Brother Zhen is ill, so we only went through the simple procedures for offering sacrifices to the ancestral temple, and then closed the door to visitors."

Grandmother Jia sighed, "It's really outrageous. Since the family is in decline, he doesn't even take an old woman like me seriously."

Jia Zheng consoled her, "That's not the case. It's just that Ningguo Mansion has been in trouble recently."

"What bad news?"

Jia Zheng then recounted the Ningguo Mansion's wedding to Jia's mother in a hasty manner, which again caused Jia's mother to sigh endlessly.

"Could this Yue Ling be the calamity star of my Jia family? Since he came to the capital, my family has never been at peace again."

Jia Zheng asked tentatively, "Grandfather, if it really doesn't work, we can go and make some friends with him. He is now a big hit with His Highness, and there are more people going to the mansion to make friends with him than there were in the past. When His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it is even more difficult to predict what position he will hold."

Obviously, Grandmother Jia was not interested in listening to these words. She frowned and closed her eyes again.

"No minister who is favored by the emperor will have a good ending. Now he is young and famous, and he is arrogant because of his favor. He is capable of doing something that will embarrass the Ningguo Mansion. Many people in the capital have long been wary of him. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, let alone a young tree like him."

"Okay, you go out first, and let Baoyu and the others come to see me tomorrow."

Although Jia Zheng did not agree with what his grandmother said, filial piety came first, so he did not dare to say much. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, bowed, and walked out of the hall.

As soon as he walked out of the main gate, Jia Zheng let out a long sigh.

……

In the wing room of Jia Mu's Courtyard,
Because Jia's mother was ill, Baoyu had to move out of the warm room, which allowed him to wander around the garden and play with the girls all day.

However, several major events happened in succession in the mansion, and naturally the atmosphere was depressing, so Baoyu didn't have much interest anymore.

"Sister Xiren, have you found out? Why didn't Sister Yun come?"

Xiren was the maid who had taken care of Shi Xiangyun when she was at the mansion, and was familiar with the Shi family. At this moment, she was also asking about it at the Shi residence, and came back to answer Baoyu, saying, "I have asked."

Baoyu sat up from the couch and asked anxiously, "Why didn't you come? Is Sister Yun sick?"

The attacker shook his head.

Seeing Xiren's hesitation, Baoyu became even more anxious, "Sister Xiren, please tell me quickly, why don't you tell me?"

Xiren tentatively said, "The servants of the Shi family said that they went to Yue's house."

Baoyu looked puzzled. "Yue's House? Which Yue? Why haven't I heard of any relatives with the surname Yue?"

Xiren lowered her head and whispered, "It's Yue Ling."

"Yue Ling?"

Baoyu was startled and couldn't come back to his senses for a long time.

Xiren was afraid that Baoyu had relapsed into insanity, so she hurried forward to support him. Unexpectedly, Baoyu fell directly onto the couch, crying bitterly, "It's over, it's all over. My sisters only play with those muddy pigs and mangy dogs, and have forgotten a good person like me! When I see my sisters again, I'm afraid I will lose all my spirit, and will be no different from those worthless dead fish eyes."

If Baoyu just goes along with it blindly, he might never understand the principles of the world. Xiren tried to persuade him, "Master, friendship is not just about playing together every day. Yue Ling is already a fourth-rank official. Not to mention that you have become a fourth-rank official, even if you study scriptures and take the imperial examination, it is also a correct path, isn't it?"

"The ladies in the mansion will be pleased, the master will support him, and the sisters will also look upon the Second Master with new eyes."

Baoyu looked at Xiren coldly and said with a curled lip, "Why, you also like those people who seek fame and reputation, bullshit economic governance, bullshit knowledge, the barbarians are invading, how can their civil officials and military generals be helpless?"

"If you like, you can go to Yue's house, so that I won't pollute your eyes!"

After saying this, Baoyu turned his head inside and closed his eyes angrily.

Xiren clutched her handkerchief, folded her hands over her heart, her lips moved in sadness, but she was unable to speak.

Xiren was really upset that her good intentions did not bring her good results, but there was nothing she could do. Baoyu was angry at the moment, so she had to leave the room first.

When she walked out of the door, she ran into Qingwen who had returned from outside with a malicious smile on her face.

"Hey, that's rare. You and the Second Master would quarrel?"

Xiren really didn't want to argue with her, so she just lowered her head and said nothing.

Qingwen rolled her eyes, and tapped her chin with her scallion-like fingers, saying, "Let me think, is it because no girls have come to visit him recently, and no one has played with him, that he is angry?"

"You were trying to persuade him with good intentions, but he didn't appreciate it, so that's why you had a quarrel?"

Xiren pursed her lips, rolled her eyes, and said, "I heard everything, why are you still teasing me?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "If he had studied, would he still be Master Bao? Besides, in our family, whether he studied or not, would we still be short of food and clothing? Even if the master or the mistress came to persuade Master Bao, he would just listen with one ear and let it out with the other. If you could persuade him, what would happen?"

"You're already worrying about something without even having a name."

"you!"

Xiren frowned, then thought, Qingwen is a sharp-tongued girl, she won't gain any advantage even if they quarrel with her. If the noise gets too loud and the lady comes over, it will be even worse.

With a cold snort, Xiren ignored Qingwen and turned away.

Qingwen entered the room and said to Baoyu on the bed, "If you ask me, Yue Ling is a very hateful person. He must have used some shameful means to deceive all the girls. Master Bao, don't you know that the eldest young lady of Ningguo Mansion was also imprisoned in the mansion by Yue Ling? He must have used some kind of magic."

Baoyu turned around abruptly, "Is there such a thing? Tell me in detail!"

……

Liaodong Town,
Liaodong Governor's Office,
Geng Bingwen, the Liaodong governor, who had already gone to bed at night, was awakened by the servants' hasty knocks on the door. He asked in a slightly annoyed tone, "What's the matter?"

The servant spoke anxiously, "Sir, the Crown Prince has sent a letter."

"What? Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

Geng Bingwen was so shocked that he woke up instantly. He sat up, threw away the concubine in his arms, picked up his clothes from the table, put them on, and hurried out.

"Where is the messenger? Where is he?" "He's waiting in the lobby."

Geng Bingwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked quickly to the front hall.

When I opened the door, I saw three people standing in the hall with their hands behind their backs. When they heard the door open, they all turned around and bowed, "Greetings, Master Geng."

Geng Bingwen glanced at them, his brows slightly tightened, and he strode to the hall, sat behind the long desk in the middle, and calmly placed his hands under the desk, saying politely: "You have all been tired from the journey, I hope you won't mind, stay here for one night, and then set off tomorrow. I just wonder what you have brought? Please show it to me."

The first person walked forward a few steps and handed the letter to the clerk beside him.

"My lord, please take a look."

Geng Bingwen took it, carefully unfolded the letter, read it through, and his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed, Geng Bingwen pulled out a broadsword from under the table, jumped down the steps, and put it on the neck of the visitor, "Tell me, who are you? Why did you falsely deliver the letter to His Highness?"

When the people in the hall saw Geng Bingwen taking action, they all drew up their weapons and confronted the envoy.

There was a faint trace of blood on the neck, but the messenger's expression remained unchanged. He only took off his hat, but the bun on his head disappeared.

In Dachang, the concept of "the hair on the body is from the parents" is deeply rooted. Only criminals who were sentenced to shaving their heads would shave their heads. Apart from them, only the Jurchens and barbarians outside the Great Wall shaved their heads for the convenience of riding horses.

Geng Bingwen's pupils shrank slightly, and he asked in surprise: "Jurchens?"

The man whose neck was held smiled and said, "It's been a long time since we last met, Lord Geng. I don't know how you saw through me at first sight. I thought I spoke standard Chinese."

Geng Bingwen frowned and said viciously, "When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sends messages, he always uses the personal guards of the palace, and the boots they wear are gold-engraved crane boots, but you, a bunch of unsophisticated Jurchens, are wearing casual boots. Do you think you can pretend to be envoys from the court?"

The visitor smiled and said, "Lord Geng is from the Kangwang faction. He even knows the affairs of the Qinwang Mansion in such detail. He is really amazing. However, Lord Geng is so smart that he must be able to guess why we are here."

Geng Bingwen was startled, put away his knife, and said blankly: "You killed the envoy from the court?"

"Hahaha, Lord Geng is indeed a smart man. I am most willing to deal with smart people. Because only smart people know how to weigh interests and know what is truly good for them."

Looking back, the Jurchen pursed her lips and said, "Master Geng, can't we talk behind closed doors?"

Geng Bingwen sighed and sent all his trusted confidants outside to guard the door.

After a while, they came to a small study.

A small candle was lit, and the room seemed dim, barely illuminating the faces of a few people.

The Jurchens took their seats, and the leader spoke first: "I am Huerhan, and I am here at the order of my prince to negotiate peace with Lord Geng."

Geng Bingwen frowned and said, "Talk about peace? How can you talk about peace if you killed all the messengers? Don't beat around the bush, just speak frankly!"

Hu Erhan smiled and said, "Well, I won't beat around the bush."

"Your Excellency was once a member of the old army of King Kang, and was secretly kept by King Kang. After the coup is successful, you will enter Shanhaiguan to maintain order in the capital. Am I right or wrong?"

It has come to this point, and Geng Bingwen no longer needs to hide it. "Yes, it is true."

"Now that the King of Qin has won and is in charge of the East Palace, what will happen to you, my Lord? This should not be difficult to guess."

Geng Bingwen gritted his teeth and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already said that he will not implicate any more criminals and set up a large prison."

Hu Erhan laughed again, "If it is as you said, the King of Qin really trusts you, why would he write a letter to comfort you? After this period of time, it is hard to say when you will return to the court."

Geng Bingwen shook the letter in his hand, looked at it twice in front of the candlestick, and asked, "This letter?"

"Of course it's true. We have never changed it. The situation is so urgent that we don't have the time to do anything."

Geng Bingwen touched the lead seal on the letter and found that it was indeed sealed. His heart sank immediately.

"Your Highness is just reminding me to prepare for war, and there is nothing wrong with that. And you are exactly what His Highness predicted, and you are planning to invade, isn't that right?"

Hu Erhan smiled and said, "I will tell you the truth. Not only was the messenger killed, but I also deliberately left him alive to report your rebellion to the capital. Your Majesty has no choice but to rebel. Can you still give up your military power, go to the capital to confess your crime, and clear your name in person?"

"If you don't believe it, you can send someone to try it first."

Geng Bingwen frowned and said angrily, "You are so cruel and ruthless. Aren't you afraid that I will fight to the death with you?"

"No, because Master Geng is a smart man."

"And if you have no ambition, why would you want to join King Kang and build meritorious services together with King Qin?"

Geng Bingwen's palms were sweating because the Jurchens' words were so convincing that they really touched his weak spot. He had completely lost the initiative in the negotiations.

Seeing that Geng Bingwen did not answer for a long time, Hu Erhan fanned the flames again and said, "If the great event is accomplished, you can be allowed to be the King of Guannei, which is much better than the promise of His Royal Highness Prince Kang."

Seeing that the Jurchens were so confident and knew the secrets in such detail, there must be an insider in the court.

Geng Bingwen has now been forced into a desperate situation and there is no turning back.

After hesitating for a long time, Geng Bingwen poured himself a cup of tea. After drinking it, he calmed down and spoke slowly, "What is the promise? Do you think I will believe you and swear by Luo River?"

Hu Erhan took out a piece of letter from his bosom and said, "The prince has naturally made arrangements in advance, so you can just accept it."

After looking through it, Geng Bingwen had an idea in mind and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

Hu Erhan nodded repeatedly and whispered, "It will take some time for the news to reach the capital. Your Excellency only needs to do this..."

……

Beijing, Yue's house,
When Yue Ling got up early in the morning, he didn't need to take care of himself at all. Even if he wanted to do it himself, Qin Keqing refused.

After washing, getting dressed, and changing into her official robe, Qin Keqing had become familiar with the place after nearly a month in the mansion and was very smart in doing things.

Moreover, the two maids, Ruizhu and Baozhu, who used to be Qin Keqing's servants, now lived with him and served as his maids.

While Qin Keqing was helping Yue Ling wash and dress, they would fetch water. While Qin Keqing was helping Yue Ling dress, they would clean. None of them was lazy, making Yue Ling feel like a real landlord.

"I'm going to report to the government office first. You guys go and accompany Sister Lin to do some work."

After giving the usual instructions, Yue Ling left.

The three little girls also followed him out, walked on the stone steps together, and watched him go away.

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(End of this chapter)