The Red Mansion

Chapter 7 Arrows and Knives
What Jiang Nian said was right. The girl from Suzhou was four or five years old when she was abducted. She had some memories of what happened before the abduction, but she was afraid of being beaten and scolded by the abductors and had also been threatened, so she did not dare to speak of it.

Now when she heard Jiang Nian say that he would send people to find her parents so that she could be reunited with them, she was very surprised. Seeing that Jiang Nian looked sincere, she didn't realize that he was deceiving her.

She looked up and made eye contact with Jiang Nian, then lowered her brows and said softly, "My father's surname is Zhen, and my mother's surname is Feng. I was kidnapped while watching the fireworks during the Lantern Festival... I had a maid at home named Jiao Xing... I don't remember my home address, I only remember there was a gourd temple next to my home..."

After hearing this, Jiang Nian became even more certain that she was Xiangling.

According to the original novel, three months after Xiangling was abducted, her family suffered a fire. Her father Zhen Shiyin and her mother Feng moved to a farm to settle down. However, due to the resurgence of rats and thieves, the government soldiers suppressed them and sold the farm and took refuge with Zhen Shiyin's father-in-law.

His father-in-law was called Feng Su, and his native place was Da Ruzhou. He was a sinister man. He cheated Zhen Shiyin out of the money he had used to sell his land and estate, and only gave him some small plots of land and a dilapidated house. Zhen Shiyin barely managed to hold on for a year or two before he became impoverished, and was despised and ridiculed by Feng Su.

Zhen Shiyin was filled with remorse and was also suffering from poverty and illness, so he left without saying goodbye and became a monk.

His wife, Feng, relied on Feng Su for a living. She worked day and night with two former maids to make needlework and sell goods to help with the expenses. Feng Su complained about her every day.

It is difficult for Jiang Nian to find Zhen Shiyin now, but he can go to Feng Su's house to find Feng Shi.

Jiang Nian asked the Suzhou girl, "Do you remember your grandfather's name? Where did he live?"

The Suzhou girl thought for a moment and said, "I don't remember my grandfather's name, but it seems he lived in Daruzhou."

Jiang Nian once again gazed into her watery eyes: "Now that you are my maid, how about I give you a name?"

The girl from Suzhou said "hmm".

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "From now on, you will be called 'Xiang Ling'!"

Xiangling blinked, unable to resist her curiosity: "Why is it named so?"

Jiang Nian said, "Water chestnut flowers also have a delicate fragrance. If you savor it carefully, you will find that the fragrance of water chestnut flowers is better than that of some fragrant flowers. You are like a water chestnut flower."

Xiangling was stunned and confused, but she knew that Jiang Nian was praising her, and she smiled sweetly.

Jiang Nian couldn't help but think of Xue Baochai.

In the original novel, the name "Xiangling" was given by Xue Baochai...

Immediately, Jiang Nian summoned He Yun.

"I've named her 'Xiangling'." Jiang Nian pointed at Xiangling and said to He Yun, "I intend to send someone to look for her parents. If they are found, I will bring them to Jiangning to reunite with her family."

He Yun, who usually behaves calmly and steadily, was stunned when he heard this: "..."

He Yun reminded him, "Master, we will be going to Beijing the day after tomorrow."

After Jiang Nian let Xiang Ling leave, he said to He Yun, "There's no need to rush to the capital. The emperor allowed me to go, but he didn't order me to hurry. It was originally my decision to go to the capital the day after tomorrow. It wouldn't be a problem for us to stay in Jiangning for a few more days."

He thought that Jiangning City and Daru Prefecture were both in Jiangsu, so it would be convenient to send people to look for Feng now. He didn't want to go to Beijing and then send people all the way to the south of the Yangtze River for such a matter.

He Yun nodded and responded: "It's up to you, sir."

Jiang Nian decided to send He Zhong and Qiu Fu directly to Daruzhou to find Feng Su's home, and to return quickly, as it was estimated to take ten days.

……

……

It was already February of the first year of Taishun.

Although Jiangning City is still a bit cold, there are signs that winter is over and spring is returning, with flowers blooming.

This afternoon.

Jiang Nian was practicing archery in the backyard, with Xiangling, He Yun and Meng Xiong standing beside him.

But Jiang Nian bent his bow like a full moon, the string sounded and the arrow flew out, hitting the target and hitting the center of the bull's eye.

Then, two more arrows hit the bull's eye in succession.

Three arrows, three hits!

Xiangling, staring intently at him, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Master, you have excellent archery skills!"

He Yun also praised with a smile: "Master, your archery skills have become more and more advanced." Jiang Nian sighed in his heart: "I have to thank the original owner for this!"

The original owner had a poor talent for studying, but he was physically strong. He had been practicing martial arts since he was young, and had been doing so for ten years. He had good martial arts skills, especially archery.

This martial art was inherited by Jiang Nian. In addition, Jiang Nian has been practicing martial arts diligently for several months since he traveled through time, so his archery skills have become better and better.

Jiang Nian turned and looked at Meng Xiong: "Meng Xiong, you have been practicing archery these past few days. Shoot three arrows and see if you can make any progress."

Meng Xiong smiled awkwardly, took the bow given to him by He Yun, walked forward, bent the bow, drew the arrow, and shot three arrows in a row, but none of them hit the target.

Meng Xiong looked ashamed and said, "I'm sorry for bringing shame to you. I'm not used to using a bow and arrow. A long-handled broadsword is better."

Jiang Nian said, "Don't be impatient. Your archery skills are not good, and you have only been learning from Butler He for a few days. If you practice diligently and ask Butler He for guidance, you will definitely get better."

He Yun smiled and said, "Meng Xiong is a big, strong man with great strength. He is tall and has long arms, so he is suitable for using a long-handled broadsword. He has also learned sword dancing from me these past few days, and his skills have improved rapidly."

Jiang Nian said to Meng Xiong, "You come and wield the long-handled broadsword. I'll take a closer look."

Meng Xiong agreed, quickly took a long-handled broadsword and started dancing.

This long-handled broadsword belongs to He Yun. It is over two meters long and weighs more than ten pounds.

Swords and knives are not prohibited among the people of Daqing, but if an ordinary citizen were to parade through the streets with a long-handled broadsword like this, he would likely be arrested and interrogated by the government.

Although He Yun bought this long-handled broadsword a long time ago, he rarely took it out and only practiced with it at home.

Now that He Yun is a fifth-rank Dragon Guard, it doesn't matter if he carries this long-handled broadsword around in the city.

At this moment, Meng Xiong's sword dance movements were not fancy. He did not even perform the "left and right sword dance over the head" or "dancing flowers on the front and back of the chest". He just simply flipped and chopped, but his momentum was fierce and powerful.

When Meng Xiong had this big knife in his hand, even if ten ordinary soldiers attacked him with knives, he would most likely kill them in return.

Seeing Meng Xiong finish his dance, Jiang Nian praised him generously: "Butler He is absolutely right. You are born to wield a long-handled broadsword."

Meng Xiong said, "I love to wield a long-handled broadsword. In order to better protect you and serve you, I will also practice bow and arrow diligently."

Jiang Nian smiled: "It's not enough to just talk without doing. Come, practice shooting with me."

Immediately, Jiang Nian and Meng Xiong started practicing archery together, and He Yun also joined in.

……

……

An hour later.

Jiang Nian finished his martial arts training for the day. With sweat on his forehead and a dry mouth, he took the cup of fragrant tea handed to him by Xiangling with a smile and started drinking it.

Xiangling handed He Yun another cup of fragrant tea.

As Jiang Nian drank his tea, he said to He Yun, "I remember when my mother was alive, she loved taking me boating on the Qinhuai River. Now that it's spring, while He Zhong and Qiu Fu haven't returned from their visit to Xiangling's parents, and we're still in Jiangning, I'd like to go boating on the Qinhuai River tomorrow morning."

He Yun was overjoyed to hear this.

He believed that since last autumn, Jiang Nian had been extremely diligent in studying and practicing martial arts, and it was rare for him to have such leisure and elegance. He hoped that Jiang Nian could take advantage of this boat trip on the Qinhuai River to relax a little.

His wife, Meng, also liked boating on the Qinhuai River.

Xiangling looked expectantly, "Master, can I go boating with you?"

Jiang Nian nodded and smiled: "Yes."

Xiangling smiled sweetly, her face full of joy.

She had heard that the Qinhuai River was very beautiful, but she had never swam there because she was forbidden by her kidnappers.

Now, she can sail on the Qinhuai River with her admired Mr. Nian.

(End of this chapter)