The Red Mansion

Chapter 31: I was despised as soon as I arrived in Beijing
In the 34th year of Jingning in Daqing, Luheyi, located near the East Gate of Tongzhou, was severely damaged by earthquakes and floods.

In order to ensure the transportation of grain, the imperial court moved Luhe Post Station to the south bank of Empress Xiao River in Zhangjiawan and merged it with Hehe Post Station.

This merged post station became the first post station in Beijing. It was the northern end of the Grand Canal, and it could also be said to be its starting point. Moreover, it was a rare amphibious post station.

The merged post station is still called Luhe Post Station.

"Luhe" was another name for Tongzhou in ancient times.

It was the seventh day of the third month of the first year of Taishun.

In late spring, the sky is clear and the air is fresh, and it is the time when all things revive and are full of vitality.

Inside Luhe Posthouse, the atmosphere was bustling with activity. Official and civilian vessels lined the streets, a constant stream of boats and ships, masts lining the streets, and merchants and travelers gathered. The scene of prosperity was magnificent.

The weeping willows on both sides of the river are dipped in the rippling waves, and the willow catkins and bright sunshine seem to have woven a golden gauze.

At this time, the Jiang family's ship and the Xue family's ship slowly sailed into the post station dock. The waves stirred up by the two ships' docking hit the weathered stone embankment.

He Yun, dressed in the uniform of a fifth-rank Dragon Guard, was the first to disembark from the Jiang family's ship. His black leather boots clattered against the old bluestone as he boarded the Xue family's ship. After conferring with the Xue family, he disembarked with Xie Jixing. Soon, the two hired sedan chairs, carriages, carts, mules, horses, and other means of transportation.

Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai rode in the same sedan chair, while maids such as Tongxi and Ying'er rode in a carriage, and Xue Pan rode a nimble mule.

On the Jiang family's side, Jiang Nian and Xiangling rode in one carriage, Meng and Feng rode in another, and He Yun rode a horse.

It is still dozens of miles from Luhe Post Station to Shenjing City.

Since there are only four men left in the Xue family, they still need to rely on the care and protection of the Jiang family along the way.

He Yun rode ahead on horseback, galloping to the capital city alone.

Because he wanted to find Prince Zhongyi and arrange accommodation for Jiang Nian.

This matter was confidential and only Jiang Nian, He Yun and Meng knew about it. Even the servants of the Jiang family did not know about it, let alone the Xue family.

In addition, the Xue family asked He Yun to inform the Wang family where Wang Ziteng was and send someone to pick up the Xue family.

……

……

Prince Zhongyi, also known as the Thirteenth Prince, is thirty-eight years old this year.

He was the thirteenth son of Emperor Jingning, the closest brother of the current Emperor Taishun, and also the most trusted minister. As soon as Emperor Taishun ascended the throne, he promoted him to Prince Zhongyi and entrusted him with important tasks.

He is both civil and military, has great ability in handling affairs, is good at judging people and has sophisticated methods.

The Prince Zhongyi's Mansion is located in Shuaifu Hutong outside Dong'anmen. The mansion is magnificent and demonstrates the majesty and grandeur of the royal family.

He Yun rode his horse at full speed and galloped all the way to Prince Zhongyi's mansion. The guards at the gate did not make any trouble for him.

However, He Yun was unable to meet Prince Zhongyi as he had hoped. Prince Zhongyi was not at the palace at the time, but in Changchun Garden. Gao Zhuan, the palace's chief historian, summoned He Yun and said, "Our prince has informed me that if anyone from Jiangning requires a place to stay, a house has been prepared. I wonder what the connection is between your uncle and our prince?"

He Yun bowed and said, "Please forgive me, Your Excellency, I cannot speak openly to you about this matter."

Gao Zhuan's brows furrowed as he heard this, his tone filled with displeasure. "How can this be considered confidential? Even I, the Chief Secretary of the Palace, can't know about it. Could it be that your uncle is a relative of the prince?"

After saying this, a light hum came out of his nostrils.

He Yun remained calm and bowed again, saying, "Your Excellency, we are not relatives."

Gao Zhuan continued to question He Yun, but seeing that He Yun was still evasive, he pondered, "If that so-called Mr. Jiang had such a close relationship with the prince, why would the prince only have a small, dilapidated house in the eastern suburbs of the city? Even though this man is a fifth-rank Dragon Guard, it's not surprising. This matter is not worth my attention."

With this in mind, Gao Zhuan picked up a rain-stained azure-blue teacup, used the lid to stir the floating tea, took two sips, and then looked back at He Yun, his tone slightly colder: "I'm very busy today and can't entertain you in person. I'll send a ceremonial officer to take you to the house in the eastern suburbs."

After saying that, Gao Zhuan turned his gaze to a ceremonial officer named Ke Shijie and gave him a brief explanation.

There are six ceremonial officials in Prince Zhongyi's Palace, two each of the fourth, fifth and sixth ranks, who are responsible for the ceremonial affairs of the palace.

Ke Shijie was the lowest-ranking sixth-rank ceremonial official. After receiving the order, he took He Yun to the house.

The house, located in the eastern suburbs of Shenjing City, was a small, old courtyard. The term "small courtyard" was used relative to the wealthy and powerful. In reality, it was a two-story courtyard house, a respectable residence for ordinary people.

After Ke Shijie brought He Yun to this house, he left in a hurry.

He Yun jumped on his horse and rode at full speed, reuniting with the Jiang and Xue families who were on their way to Beijing.

He Yun told Jiang Nian the whole story. Jiang Nian sighed inwardly, "I've just arrived in Beijing and I'm being looked down upon. That palace official clearly doesn't take me seriously."

Jiang Nian immediately went to the small courtyard.

At this time, the Wang family had not yet come to pick up the Xue family, and Jiang Nian's small house was located near the Jinjing Road. Aunt Xue followed Jiang Nian to the small house, hoping to find out Jiang Nian's background.

After arriving at the small courtyard, Aunt Xue stepped on the moss-covered stone steps in her brocade embroidered shoes. She looked at the old buildings in the courtyard, and a sarcastic arc appeared at the corner of her lips.

As she looked at Jiang Nian, she pondered in her heart, "My Xue family has several houses in the capital, any one of which is better than this one. Shouldn't Jiang Nian have an extraordinary background? Why does he live in such a simple house in the capital? And it's located in the suburbs, not in the prosperous part of the city... Could it be that my initial guess is wrong, and his background is not prominent? If so, the promise to me seems like a joke. I will ask Bao's uncle to put an end to Jiang Nian's wishful thinking!"

Xue Baochai was worried: "If Mr. Jiang's background is not prominent, wouldn't it be even more humble for me to be his concubine?"

The old copper bells on the eaves swayed and rang in the spring breeze, and in the ears of Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, they seemed to become the sound of sarcasm and sobbing respectively.

Jiang Nian felt that living in this small house was quite comfortable.

Haha, if it were in his previous life, this two-courtyard quadrangle house not far from Chaoyang Gate would be of astonishing value. Anyone who could own this "small house" would definitely be considered a wealthy man.

However, as he leaned against the cracked cypress pillars and gazed at the half-dead pear tree in the courtyard, he couldn't help but wonder, "After all, I'm the son of Emperor Taishun, and he allowed me to come to the capital. He bestowed upon He Yun the title of fifth-rank Dragon Guard and instructed Prince Zhongyi to arrange a house for me... Under these circumstances, why would he arrange for me to live in this dilapidated little house in the suburbs? Was this intentional on the part of Emperor Taishun, or was it on the part of Prince Zhongyi?"

There is one more update, which is being revised.

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(End of this chapter)