The Purple Gold Beam Across the Sea

These words came down like a sudden downpour, and the woman turned deathly pale with fright. She knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Grandmother, please calm your anger! This servant... this servant didn't mean that! This servant just heard that he's been made a laughingstock..."

"A joke?" Grandmother Jia sneered. "What do those pampered brats know? Let them laugh all they want. My Jia family's children are capable, and that's their business! Who are they to gossip about them? I think you're just narrow-minded and can't stand seeing others do well! Get out! If I hear such nonsense again, you'll regret it!"

The woman was terrified and scrambled out of the room, leaving all the maids and servants speechless with fear.

They were also shocked. How could their ancestor be so protective of a branch of the family in the west corridor?

Grandmother Jia leaned against the pillow and closed her eyes, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Is she some kind of deaf and blind old fool? She has lived to a certain age and experienced more storms than these young people have eaten rice.

Grandmother Jia was the true pillar of the vast Rongguo Mansion, the last link connecting the Jia family with the top elite families in the capital.

As long as she, the Duchess, is alive, the Ning and Rong mansions will still be the proper Duchess mansions!

Grandmother Jia knew perfectly well what was going on. The Jia family may appear prosperous and splendid now, but in reality, they were weak and insecure.

As long as she lived, thanks to her title of Lady of Rongguo and her connections with the older generation of nobles, the Jia family could maintain a semblance of prestige.

But what if she closes her eyes?

The eldest son, Jia She, was a first-class general, but he only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, and accomplished nothing after inheriting the title; the second son, Jia Zheng, was an assistant minister in the Ministry of Works, a low-ranking official, and was pedantic; the grandson, Jia Lian, bought a position as a sub-prefect, which was also a nominal position.

What are these three men, bound together, in this capital city teeming with powerful and wealthy people?

She felt the chill of impending collapse more acutely than anyone else.

Many in the household knew that a crisis was imminent, but who could do anything about it? Jia Shishi had devoted herself wholeheartedly to this family, attempting to turn the tide three times!

For the first time, she betrothed her beloved daughter, Jia Min, to Lin Ruhai, a promising scholar who had gone on to excel in his studies.

It was originally said that this was a good move.

Lin Ruhai came from a distinguished family. He was a former third-place scholar in the imperial examinations and a legitimate Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), starting his career as a seventh-rank official.

Now he has risen to the rank of Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, a fourth-rank official, and also holds the position of Salt Commissioner, a seventh-rank official but a very lucrative post. With the Emperor's favor at the height of his power, his future is limitless.

The Jia family's acquisition of such a fine son-in-law is nothing short of a significant boost.

However, man's plans are no match for fate. Her daughter, Jia Min, was unfortunate and died young. To make matters worse, she left behind only a frail daughter, Daiyu (she had a son who died at the age of three).

Will Lin Ruhai remarry in the future? If so, will he have more children? How long can this relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law, and between the two families, be maintained? All of this remains to be seen.

This first bet, seemingly a perfect and brilliant one, is actually still shrouded in mystery, with the outcome uncertain and the gains and losses unpredictable.

For her second bet, she placed it on her eldest grandson, Jia Zhu.

That child was indeed promising; he was diligent and studious from a young age, unlike his father who was pedantic and had no spoiled habits. At a young age, he entered school and became a scholar. The next provincial examination was just around the corner, and this rising star was almost about to prop up this crumbling family.

But what was the result? Man proposes, God disposes!

A serious illness struck, and Jia Zhu fell seriously ill. Twenty years of painstaking effort, all the hopes of the family, were poured into those twenty-odd days and nights until his life was extinguished.

This second gamble cost her not only her grandson, on whom she had placed high hopes, but also the future pillar of the Jia family.

That blow was like a dull knife cutting into her flesh, almost taking half her life. Even now, when Grandmother Jia thinks about it, her heart still aches with pain.

The flickering light of the two white candles before her coffin still shines brightly in her dreams.

For this third bet, she staked almost her entire fortune and courage, sending her eldest granddaughter, Yuan Chun, into the deep palace, a place fraught with danger and peril.

They hoped that she would receive the Emperor's favor, give birth to an imperial heir, and secure a royal bloodline for the Jia family to continue for generations, thus firmly binding this immense wealth and status.

But as the years passed, the palace grew desolate.

Yuan Chun has been suffering in that shameful place ever since, and her virginity remains empty; she has never conceived.

Although one's rank in the palace is barely promoted, it is as slow as an ox pulling a cart, causing anxiety.

This move, now, is like a pebble thrown into a bottomless abyss, yielding no definite echo, leaving only endless waiting and a fading, elusive hope.

But now, Jia Yun has suddenly appeared.

He was skilled in martial arts, courageous, eloquent, and proficient in literature. He also managed to gain respect and appreciation from important figures!

Isn't this a drop of sweet rain after a long drought for the Jia family?

More importantly, he actually caught Li Shouzhong's eye!

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, a leader of the upright scholars, and a figure revered by scholars throughout the land!

What does it mean that he agreed to take on a disciple? It means that if Jia Yun can pass the imperial examinations, he will be on a respectable path to officialdom, the path of a pure and upright civil official!

This is worlds apart from official positions obtained through family connections, nepotism, or scheming!

What the Jia family lacks now is not empty titles or fleeting wealth, but rather the kind of learned individuals who can stand firm in the court and earn respect through genuine talent and learning—the kind of "refined and noble" reputation that can perpetuate the family's fortune!

In her view, Jia Yun's so-called "recklessness" outside today was not shameful at all, but rather a display of sharpness and courage!

How can young people achieve anything without this drive? What do those privileged children care about? What do they know about matters of national importance?

The fact that Jia Yun was able to express his views on Liaodong, whether right or wrong, at least shows that he was thinking and caring about the current situation. This is a hundred times better than those who only know how to fight cocks, ride horses, eat, drink and have fun!

As for shamelessly kowtowing to become an apprentice? That's utter nonsense! That's about knowing how to seize an opportunity!

A man like Li Shouzhong is someone ordinary people can't even get close to. He's already offered a way out, so why not seize the opportunity? Why hold onto that pathetic air and wait for a chance to slip away? That's what a smart person does!

Those foolish women only know how to focus on their own little corner of the house, gossiping and spreading rumors. They have no idea about the intricacies and dangers involved!

Grandmother Jia slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the maids, including Yuanyang, who stood with their hands at their sides in the room. She had already made up her mind.

She couldn't openly show too much favor for Jia Yun, lest it arouse unnecessary jealousy and trouble, causing unnecessary problems for the child. But there were some things she could do.

"Yuanyang," her voice regained its usual composure, "I remember there are still two reams of fine Xuan paper in the storeroom, and those few Huzhou brushes that the palace bestowed upon us the other day. Quietly find them, and wrap them up with twenty taels of silver... no, fifty taels. Find a reliable person, without making a fuss, and deliver them to Yun'er's mother in the west corridor. Just say... just say I heard that Yun'er has recently become more diligent in his studies, and this is to give him some paper and brushes so he can focus on preparing for the exams without having to come and thank me."

Yuanyang understood immediately and replied, "Yes, Grandmother, this servant understands and will go do it right away."

Grandmother Jia nodded, closed her eyes again, and slowly twirled the prayer beads with her fingers.

Jia Yun... the future of the Jia family, relying solely on Bao Yu and the others, is probably... unreliable.

"Could it be... fate's will? Is Baoyu... ultimately not cut out for this path?"

Baoyu was the apple of her eye; she loved him dearly. But she also knew that Baoyu disliked economics and official careers and was soft-hearted. In this world surrounded by wolves and tigers, how could he support the family?

She wasn't the kind of stubborn old-fashioned person who was closed-minded and blindly favored the direct descendants. For the survival of the entire family, she had to seize every possible opportunity.

Having made up her mind, Grandmother Jia immediately ordered someone to invite Lady Wang, Lady Xing, and Wang Xifeng over.

Before long, the three arrived.

Grandmother Jia didn't mince words and said directly, "You must have heard about what happened to Yun-ge'er outside today. This child is promising and ambitious. I've been thinking that the young ladies in our household spend their days doing needlework and reading idle books, which isn't the right path. Handwriting is a person's face, and it's never a bad thing to write well. Starting tomorrow, whenever you have free time, let Yun-ge'er come into the inner quarters to teach his sisters how to write and read."

Upon hearing this, both Madam Wang and Madam Xing were taken aback, and their faces showed disapproval.

Madam Wang spoke first, her tone tactful yet carrying a hint of opposition: "Old Madam, this... I'm afraid it's against propriety, isn't it? Although Yun-ge'er is a nephew of the clan, he is still an outsider. He often enters and leaves the inner chambers to teach the young ladies... If word gets out, I'm afraid there will be gossip, and it will ruin the young ladies' reputations."

Madam Xing chimed in, "Yes, Madam, Second Madam is right. We have female tutors in the household; why bother a young man? This is the proper custom..."

"Rules?" Grandmother Jia rolled her eyes, interrupting her. "In this Rongguo Mansion, what I say is the rule! If you think it's against etiquette, are you going to go to the Imperial Clan Court to complain about this old woman?"