The Red Mansion

Chapter 82 Ying'er and Ruizhu fight
In the main room, the noise faded away and returned to silence.

The servants had already left, and even Xiangling was sent away by Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian sat alone in the study, next to the desk.

Although he had taken off his official hat, he had not changed into his official uniform.

He hasn't had enough yet.

Moreover, he was going to write the first memorial in his life, and wearing official uniform could give him a sense of ceremony.

He looked solemn and his eyes were focused, as if brewing a silent storm.

On the desk, there is an inkstone with the fragrance of ink wafting in the air, and a wolf-hair brush is waiting on the pen holder.

Jiang Nian reached out for the pen, dipped the brush in ink, and lightly touched the tip of the pen to the letter paper. The ink gradually spread, and the words flowed like clouds and water, jumping onto the paper:

"Your servant Jiang Nian respectfully reports:

I would like to respectfully present four strategies for clearing up the financial and grain deficits and implore Your Majesty’s consideration.

......"

Wherever the pen goes, every word is sonorous and every sentence is concise.

In fact, in order to increase his presence in Emperor Taishun's heart, gain his appreciation, and allow himself to enter the court as an official as soon as possible, he had already thought of several strategies.

The imperial examination was just his preferred strategy.

In addition to the imperial examination system, there are several other strategies.

For example, the memorial he is writing now.

Although his imperial examination strategy has been successful now, he will not "sit quietly" and wait until he comes of age next year to officially enter the court.

He will further enhance his presence in Emperor Taishun's heart and gain further appreciation from Emperor Taishun.

Therefore, he wrote this memorial that he had been planning for a long time and thinking about...

Just as Jiang Nian was concentrating on writing the memorial, he suddenly heard a gentle knock on the door: "Master, it's me."

Jiang Nian knew it was Xiangling as soon as he heard it, and his brows subconsciously frowned slightly.

He never liked being disturbed when he was concentrating on studying or working, even by Xiangling.

But he liked Xiangling, so his brows relaxed immediately and he said lightly, "Come in."

Xiangling pushed the door open and walked in, her steps light and graceful. She said softly, "Master, Miss Ruizhu from next door wants to see you."

Qin Keqing's personal maid Ruizhu had been to the Jiang family before. Jiang Nian did not find it strange that she came this time. He thought that she must have been sent by Qin Keqing. Jiang Nian was just curious about what Qin Keqing wanted to see him about?
Jiang Nian ordered Xiang Ling: "Bring her in."

Xiangling responded and left, leading Ruizhu into the hanging flower gate, through the inner courtyard, and towards the main room.

At this time, Ying'er was standing under the eaves of the west wing. Seeing Ruizhu being led to the main room by Xiangling, she was suddenly curious and quickly stepped forward to ask Ruizhu, "What are you doing here?"

Ruizhu felt guilty and looked a little embarrassed: "I... I came to see Mr. Jiang."

Ying'er raised her eyebrows and asked again, "What do you want to see my master for?"

Ruizhu was displeased when she saw Ying'er was questioning her. She said coldly, "It's none of your business."

There had been some grudges between the two maids before, and the verbal battle now added a bit of tension.

Ying'er was choked by Ruizhu and was speechless for a moment.

Ruizhu ignored Ying'er and followed Xiangling to the main room.

Ying'er hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed. Ruizhu noticed footsteps behind her, turned around and saw Ying'er following closely. She couldn't help but ask angrily, "Why are you following me?"

Ying'er raised her eyebrows and replied, "This is my home! Why can't I leave? How does that mean I'm following you?"

Ruizhu sneered, her tone tinged with sarcasm: "How shameless! Your master is just a concubine, and you, a maid, treat this place like your own home?"

Ying'er was furious: "You..."

She has always been loyal to her master. When she saw Ruizhu despising Xue Baochai, she was furious despite her innocent nature.

Ying'er scolded Ruizhu, "You're shameless! Your master has only been dead for two months, and you, a servant, are already helping your own daughter to seduce our master. You're so shameless!"

When Ruizhu heard this, her face flushed red with anger, her eyes widened, and she sternly shouted, "You...you deserve a beating!"

Before she could finish her words, Ruizhu had already lunged at Ying'er, and the two of them instantly engaged in a tangle. Ruizhu reached out to grab Ying'er's hair, but Ying'er, unwilling to be outdone, pulled back on Ruizhu's skirt. The two of them tugged at each other, their hair in disarray, their clothes fluttering, and they cursed at each other, creating a chaotic scene.

This sudden scene left Xiangling dumbfounded. It was the first time she had encountered such a thing. She was stunned for a moment before she hurriedly tried to persuade them, "Stop fighting, stop fighting..."

Xiangling was pushed back by Ying'er and Ruizhu, who were furious.

At this moment, a cold shout came from the door of the main hall: "Stop!"

The sound was as cold as ice, instantly freezing the noise in the courtyard.

Ying'er and Ruizhu heard the sound and stopped in a hurry.

Ying'er raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Nian, and immediately lowered her head and hands, her awe evident in her words.

Ruizhu was surprised and respectful when she saw Jiang Nian wearing gorgeous official uniform and with a dignified demeanor.

At this time, He Yun and Meng who lived in the east wing, Xue Baochai who lived in the west wing, as well as Feng, Qi'er, Qin'er and others were all alarmed and gathered in the inner courtyard.

Jiang Nian's expression was stern, his eyes like knives. He glanced at Ying'er and Ruizhu and said coldly, "You two are so brave, you dare to fight here!"

Ying'er's voice trembled slightly: "Master, I...I was wrong."

Seeing this, Xue Baochai hurried over to Ying'er, bowed deeply to Jiang Nian, and said softly, "Master, Ying'er is ignorant and has offended you and this young lady. I will discipline her properly."

Seeing Xue Baochai like this, Jiang Nian's expression eased a little, and he said calmly, "Take her back to her room."

Xue Baochai nodded in agreement and left with Ying'er. Ying'er followed with her head lowered, looking nervous.

Jiang Nian turned to look at Ruizhu and whispered, "Come with me to the study."

Ruizhu murmured, "Yes."

Then he followed Jiang Nian into the study in the main house.

Ruizhu entered the study and saw Jiang Nian sitting at the desk with a calm expression. His official uniform was gorgeous and looked majestic. She then remembered to greet him and hurriedly bowed respectfully. She said softly, "Greetings to Master Jiang."

After the ceremony, she couldn't help but look up, her eyes lingering on Jiang Nian's official uniform. Curious, she asked in a low voice, "Uncle Jiang, you... why are you wearing an official uniform?"

Jiang Nian didn't answer her question, but asked calmly, "Did your daughter send you to see me? What's the matter?"

Although he was curious about why Ying'er and Ruizhu had argued and fought, he wouldn't ask Ruizhu. He didn't know Ruizhu well, but he did know Ying'er, and he trusted her story more. Besides, he could ask Xiangling, who was the most obedient and would definitely not lie to him if he asked her about the matter.

Ruizhu hurriedly took out a piece of flowery paper, presented it with both hands, and said respectfully, "The young lady asked me to bring this to Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Nian took the flowered paper and saw that it was exceptionally exquisite. The patterns on the paper were delicate and there seemed to be a subtle fragrance floating in the air. He unfolded it and took a closer look. The handwriting on the paper was beautiful and it read:
"I just heard that Uncle Jiang took the Shuntian exam and didn't make it. But he's only fifteen, like the rising of a new moon. Why bother with the question of whether it's full or short? Uncle Jiang's talent is like the sword energy of Fengcheng, which will eventually penetrate the Douniu. Given time, he will surely be on the list of top scorers and even have his name in the Xingyuan Garden. And watch Chang'an blossom in full bloom, the spring breeze bringing light to the horses' hooves.

This is respectfully submitted.”

(End of this chapter)