Chapter 1054
Harsh Words in the Restaurant
Chapter 1054 Harsh Words in the Restaurant
In front of the Rongguo Mansion,
Several large lanterns have been hung beneath the majestic gate tower, illuminating the quiet area in front of the gate.
In the dim light, the side gate in front of the mansion opened, and then a stream of servants poured out, standing under the lanterns. Several of them stood on both sides of the mansion gate, looking around. It turned out that since Master Bao went to study at the Imperial Academy, sometimes he would finish school late, and when he returned to the mansion, it would naturally be dark.
Therefore, the Second Madam gave the order that even at night, people should be sent to wait in front of the mansion gate until Master Bao returned before the gate could be closed.
As darkness fell, the servants at the gate grew increasingly grim. They had to work during the day and stand guard at night, which was far less comfortable than the servants in the front yard. They only had to work for half a day before they could go back to the inner courtyard to gamble and eat and drink large bowls of stewed meat—it was a life of luxury.
The group looked anxiously toward the west entrance of Ningrong Street, but still couldn't spot Master Bao's carriage. At this point, someone couldn't help but complain.
"Guys, when will this ever end? Standing all day and night, my legs are getting numb. Look at those guys in the front yard today, so cocky. When we went to eat, they didn't even eat their rice. Their bowls were full of big chunks of meat. They were so hungry."
The servant standing at the front was filled with envy. When he first saw the bowl of meat, he thought it was vegetables served in the bowl. But in the end, each of them was holding a bowl of meat and gnawing on it, and it smelled delicious.
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything, because once he did, the remaining servants couldn't stand it anymore. One of them even sighed and continued the conversation.
"Who says otherwise? In the morning, when others ate soup noodles, there was meat on top of the noodles. But when it was their turn, there was only noodles on top of the meat. They thought they were hiding in the back so we wouldn't see them. Every servant who came and went saw it, and the manager didn't even ask."
"What are you thinking? Who's going to ask? As the saying goes, those below drink the soup while those above eat the meat. You never know, but the people there might get even more."
The group wholeheartedly agreed. Everyone in the household knew the ways of the old folks; for some reason, that feeling of envy had suddenly arisen.
"Hey, tell me, if Master Bao gets married, who will be in charge of this mansion?"
It's unclear what possessed those few, but they suddenly steered the conversation in this direction. The remaining people's expressions changed, but they couldn't help wanting to say something, yet they dared not utter a word.
"What are you talking about? In this manor, it's naturally Second Madam who makes the decisions. As the saying goes, first come, first served. We haven't even entered the gate yet, who dares to speak recklessly? If we're talking about serious matters, we should talk to the steward. The people who stand guard at night take turns, so their legs won't go numb from standing all night."
Among the servants, some of the older ones quickly spoke up to reprimand them, warning them that these words should not be spread carelessly, lest their master find out and they would be punished with a beating.
"Yes, yes, it's all just nonsense from you guys. Tomorrow, we'll all go to the front yard and eat at the meat stall. It's not their turn to eat alone."
"Yes, let's go together."
As if they had suddenly realized something, the others quickly interjected to smooth things over, unaware that Wang Xifeng, with Ping'er and her entourage, had already strolled to the inner palace gates. Behind them, Wang Wang's face was rather unpleasant; these servants dared to gossip about their master—they deserved a good beating long ago.
"Master, this servant will take some men and give these arrogant and ignorant servants a good beating so they will learn their lesson."
Little did they know that these words would elicit a smirk from Wang Xifeng, who would then say;
"What's the rush? What they said isn't wrong. A new bride is coming to the house, and this woman, who was already past her prime, has to give way. You couldn't hold back after just a few words and you've already confessed. Go back."
Without a word, she led her people back, the frost in her eyes undiminished. "Hmph, I wonder who's spreading rumors in the inner quarters. The person in charge of this mansion is going to have to be replaced. I don't believe it's not the Second Madam who's behind it." She looked at Ping'er following behind her and asked irritably.
"By the way, where did your second master go?"
"Reporting to Grandma, Second Master came back around noon and took a package from the house, saying he was going to the Prince's Mansion to discuss important matters. He might not be back tonight."
Ping'er wanted to explain further, but Wang Xifeng glared at her fiercely and scolded her.
"Useless thing, we can't stop him. If he doesn't come back by now, who knows where he's messing around with some vixen."
Still angry, he reached out and pinched Ping'er's plump body, causing Ping'er's eyes to redden in pain.
"Grandma, what are you doing?"
"Hmph, what did you do? I told you to stop him, but what did you do? Not only did you not stop him, you even took a bag of silver from the wardrobe and gave it to him. All my hard-earned savings were spent by you two lovebirds. In the end, what did I get out of it?"
He grew increasingly angry as he spoke, and his voice became louder. Laiwang stood there with his head down, unsure whether to leave or stay, so he could only offer a few words of advice.
"Grandma, it's almost time for Master Bao to return. It wouldn't be good if he heard that, especially if someone from Second Madam's side came to greet him."
I won't say much; there are some things I can do but can't say.
With Laiwang's interruption, Wang Xifeng lost her previous imposing manner, snorted coldly, and strode back to her courtyard. Just as she left, Caiyun from the Second Madam's courtyard, accompanied by several maids, arrived at the front yard.
Imperial College
In Xishe Academy,
Rows of palace lanterns shone brightly, illuminating the schoolroom as if it were daytime. Another day of classes had ended, and at this hour, not a single student had left. Even Song Xingjun and his group, though restless, dared not act rashly. Last time they left a little early, and although the instructor hadn't said anything, he always seemed to call on them to answer questions in class.
"Brother Yue, Brother Yue, are we going or not? It's been an hour already, it's about time."
The man addressed as Brother Yue crouched in a seat not far behind, furtively glancing around. He saw many others, just like him, looking around suspiciously, waiting for a chance to leave.
"Calling me won't do any good. We'll go together. Oh, and call out to Jia Baoyu of the Rongguo Mansion. He just got engaged, so it's only right that he goes back early."
Yue Muning's eyes darted around. Even if they were to leave, they needed a reason, right? Luckily, they often carried some things with them, so perhaps this provided an excuse. As if receiving a tip, Song Xingjun's eyes lit up, then he glanced at Li Chongwen of the Anping Marquis's residence not far to his right, coughed, and...
"Ahem, everyone, we are all students in the same dormitory, so we can be considered fellow students. A few days ago, the Second Master Bao of Rongguo Mansion went to the Meng family to propose marriage. We should congratulate him. This can be considered as a gesture of friendship among fellow students. What do you say?"
The once quiet room was now filled with blunt words, drawing all eyes to Song Xingjun of the Marquis of Chengyi's residence. Such a bold person was truly rare, yet his actions also shook many to their core. His courage and decisiveness were undeniable; he was indeed a man of great courage.
As if encouraged, Yue Muning of the Changyong Marquis's Mansion also loudly offered his congratulations.
"Haha, Brother Song is absolutely right. As fellow disciples, how can we fall behind? Brother Baoyu, a banquet is definitely in order tonight. Congratulations!"
He clasped his hands in a fist salute towards Jia Baoyu's seat, and, as if on cue, Li Chongwen laughed heartily, then stood up, walked to Jia Baoyu's side, and took out a jade pendant, placing it on the table.
"Brother Baoyu, I came in a hurry today and did not bring any gifts. I will present you with a piece of warm jade first. The gifts will be delivered to your residence tomorrow."
"Well done, Brother Li, you're the most reliable person."
Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but many students introduced themselves and offered their congratulations, causing Jia Baoyu's face to flush red. He had heard about the engagement, but no one had told him the details. Now, hearing it for the first time, he was somewhat at a loss, but he knew that since the matter had been brought up, he had to respond. Although he was displeased, he had no choice but to stand up and bow to those around him.
"Thank you all, this matter, this matter."
His face flushed red, and he was too anxious to say some things. Seeing this, Song Xingjun behind him was afraid that Jia Baoyu would say something wrong, so he quickly smoothed things over and discussed the matter.
“Brother Baoyu, there’s no need to be shy. Although I am not married, I have several concubines. I won’t go into the details.”
A grin spread across his face, and everyone around him burst into laughter.
Then, Song Xingjun continued;
"Everyone says that the dishes at Youlai Restaurant in the capital are unique. Now, a new branch has opened near Qinghu Lake, close to the East City. Brother Baoyu, why don't we go there and set up a dozen or so tables in the main hall to celebrate?"
"Okay, okay," "Are you going or not?"
Upon hearing that they were going to dine at Youlai Restaurant, the students in the west dormitory all perked up, their eyes filled with hope. How could they miss out on such a lively event? It was just a congratulatory gift, after all.
Jia Baoyu seemed somewhat dazed, his face flushed with embarrassment, but also with excitement. He nodded absentmindedly.
"Very well, I shall comply."
Upon hearing this, a cheer erupted from the west wing. Everyone packed up their tablecloths and bundles, then crowded around Jia Baoyu as they left the west wing. The commotion instantly enlivened the entire Imperial Academy. As they approached the gates of the Imperial Academy, the shouts and cheers were deafening. The waiting carriages turned around and headed straight for the Youlai Restaurant by Qinghu Lake.
The commotion quickly reached the ears of the educational commissioner, Guo Wen, but he merely smiled and said nothing more. Instead, he sent several instructors to inspect the North and East dormitories.
At this moment, in the West Dormitory, only Jia Lan was still sitting there, flipping through the scriptures and pondering the eight-legged essay he had written last time. Because the education commissioner was not satisfied, it had to be rewritten. As for Uncle Bao's banquet, he had already eaten at the mansion, but he did not ignore it. Instead, he sent a servant back to the mansion to report.
Inside the Youlai Restaurant, a noisy area in the main hall was already bustling with activity.
Many students were also there, clinking glasses and beaming with joy. This group was from Qinglian Academy; they had booked over a dozen tables to celebrate the birthday of Hua Congyun, a student of Qinglian Academy. Now that Hua Congyun had caught the eye of the young master, wealth and power were within reach.
"Senior Brother Hua, Senior Brother Hua, tell me, does the young master really need us, or is he just saying it?"
Towards the end, some of the students from impoverished families felt uneasy. After the meal, many of them couldn't help but ask the question.
Unexpectedly, Hua Congyun put down her wine cup, smiled gently, and replied;
"Whether it is true or not, you all know in your hearts that the young master was able to study at Qinglian Academy and be appointed as the chief, even if it was just for face, he would definitely want some people to go back with him. If you were capable of passing the imperial examination, why would you ask these questions? Even if it's false, it won't be because of your jokes. So, put your minds at ease. This time, the young master wants quite a few people, so you must seize the opportunity."
In the past, Hua Congyun would never have said these words, but this time, the young master suddenly sent him a message, asking him to recruit as many Qinglian Academy disciples as possible to return to the Northwest with him, especially those from poor families. He wanted as many as possible, and if he could recruit them all, the young master actually promised him the position of general or a sixth-rank prefect. This made Hua Congyun rack his brains, which led to this birthday celebration.
"Ah, it's true, Senior Brother Hua. Are there any limits on the number of spots?"
This time, it wasn't a few poor students who were speaking, but rather the sons of merchants who usually surrounded him. These people were also useful, so Hua Congyun put down his wine cup and explained.
"We will accept all comers. This time, we will take them all. Moreover, I have heard that the Prince of the South is just like everyone else. In the end, he will guard the border of the country and serve the court."
In the end,
Hua Congyun revealed a secret: without these things, why would these people have the mind to believe them?
Almost as soon as the words were spoken, everyone was shocked. This would inevitably create many vacancies for officials, which would also be an opportunity for them. But deep down, there was also some worry. Once they joined the Crown Prince's ranks, they might not be able to return to the court.
Perhaps sensing what these people were thinking, Hua Congyun also frankly admitted,
"Of course, everyone should think this over carefully. This is a rare opportunity. Since you have come to my banquet this time, you are doing me a favor. But you should also think about how many students there are in the world. You and I have already been blessed by the heavens to enter Qinglian Academy. Unfortunately, there are still too many people. Take this special imperial examination for example. How many people will pass? And how many will become successful candidates in the provincial examination and the imperial examination? Time flies, and we can only do nothing."
I don't know what others think about this, but Hua Congyuan would never waste so much time. Life is short, why hang yourself on one tree? This thought stirred many people's hearts. Yes, following the prince might lead to some great achievements.
In just this short time,
A group of students from the Imperial Academy arrived at Youlai Inn amidst much noise, causing the students from Qinglian Academy to frown and turn their gaze toward the entrance.
A group of supplementary students dressed in Imperial Academy uniforms poured in in twos and threes. Li Chongwen, who was at the front, shouted out.
"Manager, bring twelve tables and serve your signature dishes. Set them up in the main hall for this festive occasion."
"Welcome, gentlemen, please come in."
Inside the counter, at the shopkeeper's shout, several waiters, along with a group of employees, began wiping down the tables and chairs. Twelve tables were cleared out on the north side of the hall, near the window. Then, tea and water were served, and several cold dishes were laid out.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. The stew will be served shortly. Would you like some drinks as well?"
The shopkeeper, all smiles, looked at the group of people before him. They were all dressed in the Confucian robes of the Imperial Academy. He knew their backgrounds perfectly well. The courtyard outside the shop was already packed with carriages and sedan chairs, indicating that they were all wealthy and noble.
"Of course we should have some. How can such a joyous occasion be complete without wine?"
Song Xingjun's face flushed red; he was extremely excited today, as this was the first time he had successfully gathered people, so how could he not be thrilled?
"Sir, please wait. Twelve jars of the finest sake."
The innkeeper shouted loudly, and immediately, waiters brought a jar of fine sake to each table, filled large bowls, and Song Xingjun stood up, holding the sake bowl, and addressed the people around him.
"Everyone, let's all raise a glass to Brother Baoyu today, wishing him a speedy marriage and the birth of a son. Cheers!"
"Okay, haha, let's do it."
Before all the dishes were even served, everyone downed their bowls of wine in one gulp, then burst into laughter and began to eat. During this time, many people came to Jia Baoyu's main table to offer toasts, showering him with compliments. At their urging, Jia Baoyu returned the toasts, and after several rounds, the effects of the alcohol began to take hold.
Upon seeing this, Song Xingjun and Li Chongwen began to help fend off the drinks. When the hot dishes were served, everyone's attention was focused on the stewed meat in front of them. After a long afternoon of hard work, they were already hungry and didn't care about anything else. They picked up their chopsticks, grabbed large pieces of meat, and put them in their mouths. They didn't know until they tasted it that the rich aroma filled their mouths and noses, making them unable to stop eating.
Such a shameless way of eating had already made the people of Qinglian Academy feel irritated. How could such a vulgar person be allowed to enter the Imperial Academy? The court was becoming worse and worse.
Hua Congyun was also extremely dissatisfied. Although they did not interfere with each other, today's events were purposeful. If these people were to ruin the young master's important affairs, it would be a great loss.
So he sent a trusted friend to go and persuade him.
Meanwhile, by the south-facing window, Song Xingjun and Yue Muning had already drunk three large bowls of wine, their faces flushed, and they were even showing signs of intoxication. Suddenly, Li Chongwen felt a tap on his back.
"Brother, could you please speak a little softer when you're all here? Let's all be considerate of each other."
A Qinglian student behind him did not behave impolitely, but Li Chongwen was already somewhat drunk. Startled by the person behind him, he was immediately enraged. He raised his hand and spilled a bowl of wine on the table behind him. Coincidentally, the person behind him did not dodge, and the wine fell directly onto his face, soaking him.
"Where did this dog come from, daring to scare your grandpa? What kind of green lotus or white lotus is this? I think you're a traitor."
This roar drew the attention of everyone around. Looking at the newcomer, dressed in scholar's robes and a square cap, already soaked and disheveled, with a face full of anger but unable to speak out, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Gentlemen, everyone says that guests are guests, and this is how you treat guests? You pour wine on someone's head at the slightest disagreement? Are all the people in your household lowlifes?!"
A cold, stern voice rang out, and Hua Congyun from Qinglian Academy had already led his men to surround them.
(End of this chapter)