Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

After saying this, Yuan Chun raised her hand to signal the maid beside her, who soon came over with a sandalwood tray. On the tray were several bolts of Shu brocade, a stack of gold and silver ingots, and a few exquisite pastries.

This is probably the usual practice; Yuan Chun bestowed gifts as a token of her affection for her two younger brothers.

Jia Cong knelt down again, kowtowed, and loudly expressed his gratitude, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the reward."

Given the emperor's decree, Jia Zheng and Jia Cong could not delay any longer, and soon they heard a eunuch urging them on.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late..."

Yuan Chun had no choice but to wave goodbye with tears in her eyes.

"I hope Father will treat Baoyu kindly. Your daughter prays for the family's well-being every day while she is in the palace..."

Jia Zheng, his face also streaked with tears, could not disobey orders, so he wiped them with his sleeve, then respectfully kowtowed again before leading Jia Cong out of the gate of Fengzao Palace.

Unexpectedly, the little eunuch stepped forward with a bow, taking two steps forward.

"Lord Jia, please wait! His Majesty has decreed that Jia Zheng, the Director of the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works, be summoned to an audience with the Emperor..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his face and handed a piece of silver to the young eunuch.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch. May I ask what imperial decree His Majesty has sent to me?"

The young eunuch, beaming, slipped the silver into his sleeve.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. His Majesty is currently in the Zichen Palace. You will know as soon as you arrive."

Jia Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed unlikely that the emperor would cause him any trouble; he probably had official business to attend to. He immediately turned to Jia Cong and gave him instructions.

"Jinghuan should not linger in the palace. He should return to the manor and report back to the old lady that he is safe."

"Yes, sir."

After saying this, the two parted ways. Jia Zheng hurriedly followed the little eunuch, while Jia Cong kept his head down and dared not look around, only walking forward with his head down.

He was a little confused when he first entered the palace. The eunuchs or maids on duty saw that he was dressed in military uniform and knew that he had probably been ordered to come to the inner palace to see his family. For a while, no one came up to talk to him.

After wandering around aimlessly for a couple of times, Jia Cong was completely bewildered. Just as he was about to take out a piece of silver to ask a young eunuch a question, a crisp voice rang out behind him.

"Whose son are you?"

Jia Cong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly turned around. He saw that the person who came was dressed differently from the officials. He looked even younger than Jia Huan. He was dressed in brocade, wearing a purple-gold crown with inlaid jewels, an apricot-yellow satin robe with dragon and python patterns, a delicate jade belt around his waist, and black boots with pink soles.

Although he didn't recognize the color of the robes, he knew that only royalty and nobility could freely enter and leave this forbidden palace, so he quickly bowed.

"I have met this distinguished guest..."

Unexpectedly, the head eunuch behind the young man shouted in a shrill voice, "How dare you be so disrespectful to His Highness the Crown Prince! Kneel down and beg for forgiveness at once!"

Jia Cong was greatly shocked and hurriedly knelt down, his forehead touching the ground. "Your subject Jia Cong was unaware of His Highness's arrival and unintentionally offended you. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness for my rudeness!"

That young man was Zhao Tan's own son, the current Crown Prince Zhao Yu. Upon hearing this, he waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of youthful curiosity, without a trace of anger.

"Get up. You seem quite unfamiliar with the place. Is this your first time in the palace?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Jia Cong rose as instructed, still keeping his hands at his sides and his eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at anyone.

"Your Highness, I accompanied my uncle to the palace to offer congratulations today and also paid my respects to Consort Xiande of Fengzao Palace. On the way back, I lost my way and was impolite. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu's interest intensified, and he slowly stepped forward to examine Jia Cong.

"Oh? You're actually a relative of the Virtuous Consort? Judging by your military officer's robes, is that a hereditary title?"

"Your Highness, I inherited the title of Yunqiwei through hereditary privilege and was granted the military examination by the Emperor. I was then appointed as the commander of the Left Thousand-Household Garrison of the Capital Garrison. I am the son of Jia She, a first-class general of the Rongguo Mansion. I am unworthy of being listed as a low-ranking military officer and do not deserve Your Highness's attention."

Zhao Yu was probably very happy to see someone her own age, as it was a rare occasion for her.

"It is quite remarkable that you are able to accompany the officials to court at such a young age. Since you have lost your way, why don't you come and play with me?"

Seeing this, the head eunuch quickly stepped forward, bowed, and whispered something.

"Your Highness, the weather is cold and the roads are slippery. It's also windy here. Why don't you have this old servant assign a eunuch to escort Commander Jia out of the palace? That way, he won't be late in returning to his residence to report, and we can also avoid His Majesty's punishment."

Zhao Yu trembled upon hearing the words "Your Majesty" and could only wave his hand sheepishly.

"Very well, I'll let you go then. I'll come and talk to you again in a few days."

"Your subject obeys the decree and thanks Your Highness for your consideration!" Jia Cong knelt down and kowtowed again. As he stood up, a young eunuch stepped forward and bowed to lead the way.

He dared not say a word or turn around, but followed the little eunuch step by step, still feeling lingering fear. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he walked out of the palace gate.

Zhao Yu glared at the head eunuch with displeasure.

"Zhang Banban, you're becoming increasingly presumptuous! Now you're even interfering in my private affairs!"

The head eunuch, named Zhang Gui, hurriedly slapped himself with a fawning smile.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. This old servant dares not. However, His Majesty instructed you to pay your respects to the Empress today, and I am afraid you will be late."

Zhao Yu was probably a little afraid of his father, so he could only purse his lips, glare at Zhang Gui, and then mutter to himself as he turned and got into the other side of the East Palace sedan chair.

Jia Cong followed the eunuch out of a corner of the palace gate, then breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled out a few taels of silver and stuffed them into the eunuch's hand. Afterwards, he grumbled and headed towards the stables where the officials' horses were being kept.

Just like parking lots in later times, there had to be a place to park officials who rode in sedan chairs or on horseback, which was quite far from the side gate of the inner palace.

By this time, most of the court officials had already left, and only a dozen or so horses remained in the stables. Jia Cong immediately noticed a group of exceptionally fine warhorses tied up next to his own, Ba Hongchen.

He had studied the horse carefully when he bought it before and recognized it as a Qinghai horse used by the royal family. The horse was blue and white all over, with a coat as smooth as satin. It had a high head and a sparse, black mane and tail. It was exceptionally spirited and could be seen at a glance as a tribute from the Western Regions, a top-quality steed raised in the imperial garden.

Jia Cong also felt an itch to touch the Qinghai Cong's mane. He took two steps forward to touch the mane, but the beast let out a neigh, spewed out two puffs of white breath from its nostrils, and raised its front legs to attack him!

"Hmph, just a beast, but it has quite the temper. I wonder which family it inherited it from," Jia Cong chuckled and cursed. Just as he was about to step forward again, he heard a shout from behind.

"Outrageous! Who dares to touch the imperial gift of the Qinghai Steed from the Prince's residence!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong froze, quickly withdrew his hand, and turned around. He saw a servant dressed in a blue satin outfit standing not far away with his hands on his hips, followed by several attendants, all of whom had a calm demeanor, unlike ordinary servants.

Before Jia Cong could speak, the servants stepped aside, and a tall figure walked slowly towards them.

The newcomer was dressed in a brocade robe with a gold-embroidered python pattern, a delicate jade belt around his waist, and a dark cloak over his clothes. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face, and exuded a calm and dignified air of someone who had been through many battles.

He appeared to be around forty years old, with a commanding presence in his eyes and every gesture exuding the imposing aura of someone in a high position, far surpassing that of an ordinary court official.