Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 550 The Imperial Concubine's Visit Home (Part 3)

Yuan Chun stood on the imperial boat, which slowly sailed from the southeast of the garden to the northwest. She saw that the banks of the stream were covered with glass lanterns. There were hundreds or even thousands of them, illuminating the entire garden as if it were daytime.

He also surveyed the various scenes in the garden, occasionally asking Jia Baoyu behind him to test his talent. If he felt that the poems and inscriptions in various places did not suit his taste, he would order the eunuchs to pass them on to Jia Zheng and Jia Lian for revision.

Soon the boat reached the inner shore, and they disembarked and boarded a sedan chair. After traveling a short distance, they saw the elegant palace and the majestic hall. The stone archway was inscribed with the four characters "Heavenly Paradise".

"It's too ostentatious. Let's change it to a villa for visiting relatives."

Yuan Chun sighed and stepped into the temporary palace. There she saw torches burning high in the sky, incense smoke carpeting the ground, a blaze of light, golden windows and jade railings. The curtains were draped with shrimp-whisker-like patterns, the carpets spread with fish and otters, the incense wafted from the cauldrons, and the screens displayed pheasant-tail fans. Truly:

"Golden gates and jade doors, a celestial abode; cassia palaces and orchid halls, the home of imperial concubines!"

Since there was no plaque on the front, Yuan Chun asked a question. The chief eunuch Xia Shouzhong knelt down and replied, "This is the main hall. I, an official, dare not presume to make any inscriptions."

Yuan-chun nodded without speaking, then entered the hall and ascended her seat to receive the rites. Amidst the music, Jia Zheng and Jia Lian led the entire male clan in a grand kowtow ceremony down the moon-shaped steps, though Yuan-chun had already instructed her attendant, Zhao Rong, to convey an imperial decree exempting them from this. At that time, Grandmother Jia led the entire female clan to pay their respects in the same manner.

After the tea ceremony was completed three times and the state ceremony ended, the music stopped. Yuan Chun could no longer bear it. After changing her clothes in the side hall, she boarded the special carriage prepared by the Jia family for her visit to the Jia family and left the garden to enter the main room of Grandmother Jia—Rongqing Hall, to enjoy the warmth of family affection.

……

Outside, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and others were extremely busy.

"How are things going with the arrangements outside?"

Only then could she arrange her own time. Now that she had entered Rongqing Hall to reunite with her family, the Zhaorong, Caipin, eunuchs, and attendants who had served her in the palace finally had a chance to catch their breath and have some tea.

The specific arrangements were made by Jia Lian, Jia, Jia Qiang, Jia Yun, and others, who hosted the guests at the East Wing and Ningguo Mansion.

"Where is the main seat inside?"

"At the main table, Feng'er and Sister-in-law You are making arrangements in the garden."

After inquiring and seeing that things were going smoothly both inside and outside the household, Jia Zheng stopped asking questions. He first arranged for the stewards and wives of the stewards of the two households to pay their respects outside Rongqing Hall. Then, he personally led Jia Lian and other main male members of the clan to Rongqing Hall to offer their greetings.

Yuan Chun received him behind a curtain. Although she had many things she wanted to say to her father, seeing him kneeling outside the curtain, behaving properly and speaking with reverence, she realized that their statuses were different and that it was difficult for the father and daughter to talk about their relationship. She could only offer some gentle words of comfort and advise him to take good care of himself.

Just as Jia Zheng was about to lead the people away, he suddenly heard Yuan Chun's voice coming from inside the curtain: "Brother Lian, please stay."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng nodded to Jia Lian, indicating that he could stay and await further instructions, and that he would take care of things outside.

After watching Jia Zheng and the others leave, Jia Lian stood briefly in front of the hall, head bowed and silent.

The Rongqing Hall of Grandmother Jia was built according to the main hall name, and the huge nanmu wood screen separating the front hall and the inner hall was movable.

Normally, to make the inner hall more spacious and facilitate the activities of Grandmother Jia and her family, the screen was placed at the front. Today, however, the screen had been moved almost all the way back, more than doubling the depth of the main hall. Moreover, to welcome Yuan Chun home, strict and meticulous arrangements had been made, making the entire main hall appear both spacious and luxuriously majestic.

Especially at this moment, Yuan Chun, dressed in a yellow robe, appeared extremely noble and sat high in the center, with Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Aunt Xue, Li Wan, Baochai, Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun standing on both sides behind the curtain.

These women were either dressed in the attire of imperial consorts, exuding nobility, or in brocade robes, showcasing their exquisite figures and beautiful appearances.

From Jia Lian's perspective, it was an indescribable display of wealth, elegance, and prosperity.

Yuan Chun slowly descended from the high couch and came before Jia Lian. Upon seeing this, the eunuchs on both sides quickly pulled up the beaded curtain.

So the two cousins ​​stood facing each other, three steps apart.

In the end, Jia Lian was the first to bow and say, "Greetings, elder sister!"

"Brother Lian, there's no need for such formalities."

Yuan Chun gestured to help him up, then gave Jia Lian a magnanimous look before turning to Grandmother Jia and the others with a smile, saying, "When I was in the palace, I often heard His Majesty and the Empress praise Lian's talent and appearance. Seeing him today, I can confirm it's true. It's just a pity how quickly time flies. I still remember when I entered the palace, he was only eleven or twelve years old, not even as old as Bao Yu is now. Now he has grown into such a tall and handsome man."

Yuan Chun's words brought a smile to Jia Mu and the others, but also a pang of sadness.

Jia Lian shook his head inwardly. Yuan Chun's words made it sound as if she hadn't seen him for ten years. Unexpectedly, he had met Yuan Chun a few times in the palace before. Although they hadn't become close, they had spoken.

He certainly didn't think Yuan Chun had lost her memory, so he was probably just doing it on purpose. After thinking about her words for a moment, Jia Lian understood.

It's likely that Yuan Chun, like him, wanted to deepen the bond between the siblings, and therefore deliberately praised him in front of everyone. Secondly, it was also to demonstrate to Lady Wang and others her respectability before the Emperor and Empress, reminding them to treat her with caution.

"Elder sister, you flatter me. I am but an average person. In this respect, I dare not compare myself to you."

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, Yuan Chun paused for a moment before realizing that Jia Lian was praising her.

While smiling, I couldn't help but think to myself, "He really is someone who has done great things, unlike the other family members who are so cautious and timid."

Even if others thought she was talented or beautiful, they dared not comment on her because of her status as a Noble Consort.

Not only did Jia Lian dare to praise her in return, but he did so subtly and without any sense of overstepping his bounds or being presumptuous. This showed that he was not a boorish person, but rather a person of proper manners, which made Yuan Chun even happier.

With such a young and promising man supporting the family, the Jia family's reputation could be guaranteed for at least several decades. And with her cousin holding an official position in the court, she had something to rely on, which would make things a little easier when facing the power struggles within the harem…

Seeing that Jia Lian's words made Yuan Chun laugh, Grandmother Jia was also happy to see the two of them getting along well. So she told Yuan Chun how happy Jia Lian was when he learned that the imperial family had allowed the empress and concubines to return home to visit their families, how he supported the construction of the palace for her, and how he almost did everything himself in the construction of the palace.

Although these matters had been discussed with her by Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang during their visit to the palace, Yuan Chun was still deeply comforted when Grandmother Jia reiterated them in front of the family.

She also found it strange, wondering why Jia Lian treated her with such...respect?

When she was a child, her uncle Jia She was too outrageous and often angered her grandparents and others, which made her keep her distance from her uncle's family.

Therefore, he naturally paid little attention to his cousin Jia Lian.

She didn't have the energy to pay attention, because when she was just beginning to understand things, her parents told her that they wanted to send her to the palace. From then on, almost all her studies and life revolved around preparing for entering the palace.

Only her younger brother, Jia Baoyu, could divert some of her attention.

Therefore, she was both surprised and somewhat regretful that Jia Lian had become famous in recent years, feeling that she had neglected her cousin too much in the past.

Even as Jia Lian gained more and more favor from Emperor Ningkang, she began to have some doubts, wondering if Jia Lian might harbor hostility towards her, his cousin, because of the various matters in his family.

After all, like Emperor Ningkang, she had doubts after Jia Lian showed his talent, wondering if his mediocrity in his youth was a way of protecting himself by being unassuming.

If so, his current display of talent will inevitably lead him to compete with his father for the family business. And now that she has been promoted to Imperial Concubine, in Jia Lian's eyes, is she the second branch's biggest backer, and the biggest obstacle preventing him from reclaiming the family fortune?

If Jia Lian truly harbors such intentions, the family will likely fall apart, and even close relatives will turn against each other—this will be an irreversible consequence.

Good luck!

Jia Lian not only did not harbor any hostility towards her, but also showed extreme support and concern for her cousin from the very beginning of their interactions.

Once or twice, she still had doubts, but now, over the years, in every single matter, from major events to minor ones, from the big picture to the details, Jia Lian has been consistent in his words and deeds. This naturally made her let down her guard, and she felt a mix of guilt and admiration for Jia Lian.

Yuan Chun asked herself, if she were Jia Lian, she probably wouldn't be able to match his magnanimity and vision.

This is why she had repeatedly told her mother and others not to neglect the eldest branch of the family at home, and why she had deliberately tried to get closer to Jia Lian in front of the whole family today.

Therefore, after hearing what Grandmother Jia said, Yuan Chun looked at Jia Lian with a grateful gaze before saying, "Just to welcome me alone, the whole family has been burdened with such financial and material expenses, which makes me feel very ashamed."

In my opinion, after this incident, the garden should never again be so extravagant and wasteful as it is today.

Although Yuan Chun had never built a palace, she had decorated her own Fengzao Palace and knew how much money it would take to decorate and embellish the two mansions and the garden so luxuriously and beautifully! Not to mention anything else, the hundreds or even thousands of glass lanterns in the garden alone would have cost a considerable sum of money.

Faced with Yuan-chun's instructions, Grandmother Jia and the others bowed their heads and accepted them.

After bowing, Jia Lian said solemnly, "Elder sister entered the palace alone for the sake of the rise and fall of our Jia family. Although I do not know the loneliness and hardships she has endured over the past ten years, I can still understand them."

Now that such a great favor has been bestowed upon us, our elder sister can go home and visit. How could our family allow our elder sister to suffer any injustice?

As for a little bit of family wealth, how could it be more important than the bond between our family members, or to winning a smile from my eldest sister?

Moreover, although I am not very talented, I believe I know a little about how to make a living.

Therefore, elder sister, you need not worry about the family's finances at all. If, by the grace of Heaven, you are permitted to return home next year, elder sister need not consider anything else; simply pack your bags. At that time, your younger brother and all the family members will certainly welcome you home with a ceremony no less grand than today's!"

Yuan Chun was stunned by Jia Lian's words. She stared at Jia Lian, and in an instant, tears welled up in her eyes.

The eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion, starting as a palace attendant, rose step by step to become a close female official by the side of the Dowager Consort, and finally ascended to the highest position, becoming an Imperial Consort and then a Noble Consort! It seems incredibly glorious and fortunate, but who can truly understand the hardships, obstacles, pain, and anxieties she endured? Her grandmother and mother might have some guesses, but they wouldn't speak of it. Because they were the ones who sent her to the palace.

The purpose? It's very simple and easy to understand.

The once prestigious family has been declining for centuries. To preserve its reputation, sending the eldest daughter into the palace to secure a better future is a shortcut!

But this shortcut is not so easy to take. How much perseverance, how much persistence, and how much luck does it require? Countless young women have fallen, disappeared, or faded into obscurity along this path, letting their beauty wither away.

Fortunately, she succeeded.

But whenever she recalls the past, she still feels lingering fear and sadness. She thought she was strong enough, but she never expected that her cousin's simple yet sincere words would break her heart.

Even now, as a Noble Consort, who knows the predicament and fear she endures, caught between the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine Dowager? Who knows the bitterness she feels, being suspected by the Empress and other concubines while receiving little favor from the Emperor?

In the rigidly hierarchical and scheming inner palace, such things happen far too often.

She thought she could only suffer these hardships alone, but unexpectedly, outside the palace, in the home where she grew up, there was someone who could understand her feelings and spared no effort to welcome her home so that she could smile again. Jia Lian's words moved not only Yuan Chun, but also Grandmother Jia, Aunt Xue, and others.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Yuan Chun, who was so moved that she was about to shed tears, and then looked at Jia Baoyu, who was still standing at the foot of Yuan Chun's high couch, staring blankly at the scene. She sighed inwardly.

Although she didn't want to admit it, Grandmother Jia understood that in terms of social skills and interpersonal relationships, Baoyu was far inferior to Jia Lian.

They had all witnessed Jia Baoyu's behavior when he was with Yuan Chun. Even though, due to their brief contact, Jia Baoyu was no longer as dull as when he first boarded the ship, he would only answer questions with a few words. How could he compare to Jia Lian, who stirred Yuan Chun's heart with just a few words and moved her deeply? If this continued, it was likely that Yuan Chun would value Jia Lian more than her own younger brother sooner or later.

Although Lady Wang also felt that Jia Lian was too cunning and had deceived her daughter, as the head of the household, she thought more deeply than Grandmother Jia.

She noticed the meaning behind Jia Lian's words, which was that Jia Lian believed he had a way of making money and was not stingy with using it to welcome Yuan Chun's visit home, and she was pleased.

It's not that she's becoming increasingly stingy and calculating; rather, this time, in order to visit her family, she has spent all of the tens of thousands of taels of silver she had saved up, and even exceeded it slightly.

Now, the official's cash reserves are only half of the 30,000 taels of silver that Jia Lian "donated" that day.

If it were just for making ends meet, this amount of money would naturally be enough, since autumn had already arrived and the income from the various farms and properties in the family was about to be deposited into the coffers.

But if, as Jia Lian said, the visit to his family is to be held again next year, and it is to be done at the same level, then it will definitely not be enough.

If there were a clear opportunity, yet Yuan-chun wasn't allowed to visit her family, she, as her mother, simply couldn't bear to do it. Therefore, Jia Lian's words were a safety net for her! As a result, even with her critical eye, she now found Jia Lian increasingly pleasing to the eye.

The elders all had their own agendas, but the sisters' feelings were much simpler, mostly based on genuine emotion.

Daiyu even wrinkled her nose, thinking to herself: "Second Brother Lian, he's still so fond of talking big! Doesn't he know to ask Sister Feng first? If Sister Feng doesn't approve, let's see how he'll save face in front of these people!"

Daiyu naturally knew that Jia Lian and Feng Jie were two extremes: one was a big spender, and the other was very frugal. Thinking about it, she couldn't help but find it amusing.

But as she laughed, she hesitated again. What if Sister Feng really didn't give her the money? She couldn't let Brother Lian be laughed at, could she?

Hmph, if he's willing to come begging to me then, I'll help him.

Daiyu touched the string of fragrant beads on her wrist, and her mood inexplicably brightened. She suddenly realized that if that were the case, she could help Jia Lian.

Her dowry was enormous...