Chapter 1093
Joyful Events at the Jia Family Mansion
Chapter 1093 Joyful Events at the Jia Family Mansion
In front of the Rongguo Mansion,
The atmosphere has become much more lively. Across the street from the mansion gate, on both sides of the street, and at the entrances of the alleyways, vendors have gathered in large groups. Members of the Jia family, and even their servants, take breaks to come here for a few drinks. Gradually, as the number of people increases, it becomes quite bustling.
But in front of the Duke's mansion
No one was allowed to set up a stall there; anyone who showed any sign of doing so was immediately chased away by Steward Lai and his men. This morning, they found Lan Ge'er...
Lai Da was still somewhat hesitant. After all, Master Bao's head injury hadn't fully healed yet. Would it be too hasty to go tomorrow?
"Don't ask anything else. This matter was decided by Guo Xuezheng of the Imperial Academy, and it can't be changed. If you don't want to go, then you'll have to drop out."
Jia Lan felt helpless. Who could have imagined that such a thing would happen? If someone hadn't come, Guo Xuezheng might have made an example of them.
Upon hearing that he wanted to withdraw from the Imperial Academy, Lai Da's expression changed, and without further hesitation, he quickly agreed.
"Don't worry, Young Master Lan, I will definitely pass on the message to the Old Madam. If possible, we can go to the Imperial Academy today to make up a bed for Second Master Bao. But I don't know where the dormitory is located at the Imperial Academy?"
Lai Da knew the rules of the Imperial Academy: those entering the academy slept on communal beds, but with the weather so hot, how could so many people fit in?
"Naturally, we stayed in the rooms behind the west wing. Because of the hot weather, even though it was a large dormitory, two people slept in one room. That was better, since there were curtains and gauze curtains, and we could open the windows for ventilation at night."
Jialan revealed his address; unlike him, he had a separate room.
"Yes, Young Master Lan, I've kept your instructions in mind. The eldest mistress has already moved to the back courtyard of the East Mansion, and her belongings have been moved out. The west courtyard will need to be renovated and rebuilt."
At this point, Lai Da fell silent. Some things were not for a servant like him to say. Jia Lan understood, nodded, and stopped walking.
"understood,"
He got back into the carriage, gave a brief explanation, and then headed to the Ningguo Mansion.
Meanwhile,
After seeing Lan Ge'er leave, Lai Da didn't dare to be negligent. He left a few people to guard the gate while he himself jogged to Rongqing Hall.
Inside the Rongqing Hall courtyard, Grandmother Jia was sitting on a carved rosewood chair, playing with her prayer beads. Her three young maids sat around her, chatting and laughing.
Wang Xifeng leaned against the window, fiddling with a pair of nail guards, her eyes darting around as if she were plotting something.
Madam Xing, the first wife, and Madam Wang, the second wife, sat to the left of Grandmother Jia, occasionally interjecting with a few words. The Xue family mother and daughter, along with Shi Xiangyun, were also whispering among themselves.
Inside, a faint fragrance filled the air, and a cool breeze blowing in from the window added a touch of comfort.
After saying a few words, Grandmother Jia looked up and saw Feng'er still fiddling with the armor. What was she doing for so long? So she asked.
"Feng girl, you've been looking at it for ages. What can you possibly know about a suit of armor? The lining has already been taken away by the old women to be washed and then mended."
This suit of armor was given to Jia Lian by Grandmother Jia. Because he left in a hurry, it wasn't thoroughly cleaned, and when he returned covered in blood, only the armor was still usable after washing. The clothes he wore underneath had to be replaced. Fortunately, his position in the Beijing garrison was now secure.
"Look at what you're saying, old lady. You changed Jia Lian into a new set of armor, how could I not know? This armor is the finest in the house. Seeing the marks from swords and spears on it, I can't help but feel uneasy."
Wang Xifeng wasn't joking. The clearly visible knife marks on the back, chest, and abdomen of the armor were undeniable; without the armor's protection, the person might have been dead long ago.
"Come sit down and rest. How many men in our household are still of use? The battle in the south seemed to be a crushing defeat for our troops, but as the saying goes, even if they didn't achieve great merit, they still deserve recognition for their hard work. I've heard that after the Beijing garrison returned, the court rewarded the three armies, and there were quotas for our troops as well."
In this way, the imperial guards would bear no responsibility, and the maternal uncle's family would be fine. Wang Xifeng and the Second Madam naturally understood this, and their faces lit up with joy. If the Wang family was stable, Jia Lian's position would be stable, and his title would also be secure.
Second Madam Wang also breathed a sigh of relief. If her eldest brother was safe and sound, Baoyu would have someone to rely on in the future. And once the Meng family girl entered the family, it would also help Baoyu settle down.
Only Madam Xing didn't understand, but she was quite adept at reading people's expressions. Seeing the joy on the faces of those around her, she knew that Madam Wang had good news, and she felt somewhat annoyed.
"Oh dear, the old lady is so insightful. If everything is alright, then the household is certainly doing well."
As the saying goes, "everyone carries a beautiful sedan chair," so she dared not utter any sarcastic remarks. Aunt Xue, upon hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief. She had been closely following the Wang family's situation and was naturally worried.
Once back in the capital, she would still need to leverage her family's influence.
Just as everyone still had something to say,
Lai Da hurriedly walked in.
"Grandma, Lan-ge'er is back,"
After entering, he bowed and reported.
A look of joy appeared on Grandmother Jia's face.
"Quick, quick, let him in. We haven't seen him these past few days."
"Reporting to the old lady, Lan-ge'er returned from the Imperial Academy in a hurry. He specifically instructed that tomorrow, the Director of Education at the Imperial Academy said that he needs to study the Analects and stay at the Imperial Academy for three days. He said that bedding should be sent today, and if he is late, he may be expelled. After Lan-ge'er finished speaking, he went to the East Mansion."
Lai Da swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.
As soon as these words came out.
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Grandmother Jia stopped holding her prayer beads, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Baoyu's forehead wound hasn't fully healed yet, isn't it too hasty to go tomorrow?"
Wang Xifeng's eyes darted around, and she smiled;
“Oh dear. Look how worried you are, Grandmother. Baoyu’s head injury has long since healed. It’s right for him to go back sooner. As the saying goes, studying requires daily effort. You can’t just let your studies dawdle every few days. Besides, with Lan’er at the Imperial Academy, he has some influence.”
The words were cleverly chosen, which pleased Madam Wang even more. With such a joyous occasion approaching, it was time to go.
“Grandma, what Feng’er said makes sense. Since the Military Command has already punished him, this matter is over. Baoyu’s injuries aren’t serious, and it’s only right that he goes back to his studies. The marriage agreement with the Meng family is the most important thing on our minds.”
The date was set before the Empress returned to the palace, so that the affairs of the Duke's mansion could be settled first.
Grandmother Jia finally nodded in agreement. Seeing the garden being built step by step, she thought it was a sight to behold for her relatives. With this in mind, Grandmother Jia began to make many plans.
"What you all say makes sense. You only know how to please this old woman. Even if things are better now, you still need to be careful in everything you do. It's fine if there's a lot of gossip in the house, but outside the house, you all need to keep quiet about the mouths of your own people."
"Yes, I'll do as the old lady says."
Everyone quickly responded. These days, it was obvious the old lady was being stricter. Yingchun lowered her head and remained silent. Xichun was too young to understand the reason. Only Shi Xiangyun, Tanchun, and Xue Baochai blinked, understanding the old lady's meaning.
Just then, Wang Xifeng wanted to say something,
Then they saw Manager Qian, who was outside the door, rush in in a panic.
After glancing at Butler Lai, he first knelt down and kowtowed, performing a grand salute.
"Reporting to the old lady, when I returned from shopping today, I encountered people coming to the mansion to offer their congratulations at a street corner. When I arrived at the mansion gate, I didn't see Steward Lai there, so I secretly accepted their visiting card and arranged for someone to greet them at the gate,"
In her haste, she took out the visiting card she had wrapped in her bosom. Grandmother Jia was somewhat surprised; who had come to offer congratulations?
"What's the panic? Stand up and answer. Who are these people? What congratulations are they offering?"
Everyone was puzzled and looked over, only to see Qian Hua excitedly place the visiting card he was carrying on the table, muttering to himself.
"These people who sent congratulatory gifts are all Bao Erye's classmates and friends. They all wrote down their names: Song Xingjun from the Chengyi Earl's Mansion, Qi Shan from the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion, Li Chongwen from the Anping Earl's Mansion, Yue Muning from the Changyong Earl's Mansion, and so on."
As Qian Hua recited the names of the various families one by one, the old lady's smile widened. It was truly an unexpected delight. She wasn't unfamiliar with these names; they were all sons of concubines from different families. But at least their reputations had been established.
He glanced at the second wife; she'd finally made it through the tough times.
"Good, good, you see, the education at the Imperial Academy wasn't wasted. Since the education commissioner has spoken, we really can't delay. Lai Da, take a few men and go to the Imperial Academy to deliver Bao Yu's bedding."
"Yes, madam." Lai Da replied without delay, bowed, and left, but he still felt a bit resentful towards Qian Hua.
Just as everyone finished reviewing the visiting cards, another person rushed in, dressed in full armor, and marched in.
"Lu Chen, the personal guard of Second Master, greets all the masters,"
He saluted heavily, the clanging of his armor drawing attention, especially his loud voice, which startled everyone in the room. Fortunately, Wang Xifeng recognized him and quickly asked what was wrong.
"Why did you come back alone? Where is your second master?"
"Reporting to Grandmother, Second Master has already escorted the military commander back to Anhu Camp with General Wang. The imperial rewards have been issued, allowing those who have rendered meritorious service to freely exchange their military achievements for titles. Second Master has made many contributions in the south, so he can exchange his merits for a General of the Anhu title, or perhaps his descendants can be granted a third-class baronship to be passed down through generations."
A hint of envy flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. Only generals received such favors. Fortunately, the general wasn't stingy; his reward was quite substantial, and the general had even removed them from slave status. Thinking of the Anhu camp, where the argument had already raged—everyone wanted both—Lu Chen hesitated.
He then whispered a reminder.
"Grandma, at Anhu Camp, many generals are making a huge fuss. The Ministry of War has also given an explanation: if you want a promotion, you will be promoted in an orderly manner and your reward will be paid as usual. If you choose the title of 'Foolish Nobleman,' you will not be promoted or receive a reward, but everything else will remain the same."
He didn't care about the reward money. After all, Marquis Luoyun had gone to the south and amassed so much silver, which he had distributed equally among the soldiers in the camp. This, along with what the Rongguo Mansion had given him, was more than enough. He also had some military merits, which should at least qualify him for a promotion to captain.
These words,
The people in the room were stunned and at a loss, especially Wang Xifeng, who had never thought of such a thing. What did it mean to be ignorant of the title? Only the old lady's eyes were filled with joy. The others could not see it, but the old lady was clear-headed. She knew how difficult it was to obtain the title bestowed by the court.
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, only Marquis Luoyun had received this title, and it had never been given to anyone else. Unexpectedly, this time, the court made an exception, allowing him to join the ranks of the nobility, even though it was the lowest rank.
"Feng'er, go back and tell your second master that he doesn't want anything else, he only wants this baronial title. Go and report back. Qian Hua, arrange for people to put all the congratulatory gifts from various mansions in the courtyard. Give the order today that a banquet will be held at the mansion."
"Yes, old lady."
Qian Hua darted out quickly, while Wang Xifeng, who had been singled out, hadn't quite figured things out yet. She handed over the silver in a daze, still wanting to say something, but her hands were quick as well. She handed over a silver ingot, and Lu Chen saluted and thanked her.
"Thank you for your generosity, Madam. I will return immediately to report to the Second Master."
Just as the person was about to leave, Aunt Xue suddenly called out to them, perhaps thinking of something.
"Brave warrior Lu, may I ask the Marquis of Luoyun's mansion if he desires the title of Yu Meng?"
Lu Chen, who had intended to turn around and leave, stood there as if nailed to the spot. When he turned back, his expression was somewhat strange, and he cautiously replied.
"The affairs of this Marquis's residence are not for outsiders to inquire about; I know nothing of them,"
Looking at the noblewoman before him, he dared not say a word, acting as if he had never seen her before. Second Madam Wang, knowing her sister's meaning, chimed in.
"She's not an outsider, but the matriarch of the Xue family, and the woman beside her is the lady to whom the Marquis's family is engaged."
He pointed to Xue Baochai, who was sitting there calmly. At this moment, Xue Baochai's face was slightly flushed. She was wearing an apricot-yellow dress, and her beautiful face was decorated with paper flowers, making her stunningly beautiful.
Lu Chen was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head and knelt on one knee.
"This humble servant is Lu Chen, the captain of the Left Guard of the Capital Garrison and the commander of the personal guards. I have just met Madam Xue. Madam, I have heard that the Marquis also used his military merits to exchange for several viscount and baron titles. I do not know the details. You may inquire about it when you return to the manor."
With a respectful expression and careful words, Xue Baochai blushed slightly, but was also pleased. Needless to say, these titles were of no use to Miss Lin and her principal wife.
"Wenxing, enjoy,"
"Yes, miss,"
Wen Xing was quick and efficient; she went over and gave him a silver ingot as a reward. Lu Chen accepted it and replied.
"Thank you for your generous gift, Madam Xue. I have important matters to attend to in the army, so I will take my leave now."
She stood up, took a few steps back, and left in a flurry. But those inside had different thoughts. The old lady wasn't just thinking about Yu Meng's title; she was more concerned with the prestige of Marquis Luo Yun in the army. Even someone who wasn't yet betrothed had managed to make these arrogant and fierce soldiers bow down. Those expressions just now weren't feigned. Ah, the Xue family's youngest daughter has found a powerful backer.
Looking at Feng Yatou again, she looked sullen and, suppressing her frustration, scolded him.
“Feng girl, what are you thinking? This title of nobility was earned with your life. As for the so-called general's position, as long as your maternal uncle's family is alive, that position will not be moved. But the title of nobility is uncertain. Also, if you have any ambition, you should focus your ambition on your belly. That's the most important thing.”
Grandmother Jia was also somewhat exasperated. How could such a shrewd person not see things this way? Regardless of whether they were her own children or not, once they were registered under her name and raised by her side, what difference was there between them and her own children?
Perhaps the old lady had touched a nerve, because Wang Xifeng's eyes reddened and she could no longer hold back her tears.
"Waaaaah... Waaaaah, I'm an old lady."
But some things can't be said openly. Everyone else knows what the old lady was talking about, but as the saying goes, even an upright official can't settle family disputes, especially since everyone knows that the second mistress has a bad temper.
"Why are you crying? You're the second mistress of a prestigious family, you can manage such a large mansion as the Duke's, how come you can't manage things in your own quarters?"
Seeing that Feng's eyes were red, Grandmother Jia felt a pang of heartache.
"Alright, have someone carry the armor back. Go back to your room and tidy yourself up. Come back when it's time to eat."
"Listen to the old lady,"
Wang Xifeng, her eyes brimming with tears, covered her mouth and walked out, instantly silencing the previously joyous atmosphere in the room. Madam Xing watched as Feng'er left, too embarrassed to ask further. The Second Madam, however, hesitated, wondering how this ignorant title should be divided.
"Grandma, even if you calculate it this way, the title of baron is the lowest rank. I wonder if there's any chance of it being distributed among the members."
Who should receive the share of the spoils? Naturally, it would go to Baoyu. Although it's the lowest share, at least he's not burdened by the entire Ningguo Mansion, so it's essentially a nominal title. If it goes to Baoyu, wouldn't that be double the joy?
Unexpectedly, Madam Xing scoffed.
"Oh dear, Second Madam is right. Jia Lian's title of 'Foolish Gentleman' is meant for future generations. Only if he has no children can it be passed on to his brothers. Even if it's about dividing the spoils, on the eldest son's side, there's still Jia Zong waiting in line."
This is clearly a sarcastic remark directed at the Second Madam. You didn't say anything when Feng was around, but now that she's gone, you're already eyeing her title. You really have no shame!
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting tense, Grandmother Jia slammed her hand on the table.
"Enough! Aren't you ashamed to say such things?"
Seeing that Grandmother Jia was angry, everyone remained silent.
"This foolishness was bought with Jia Lian's life. If it were given to Bao Yu, the path to education would be blocked. You have seen it today. If he can study, he is no worse than someone with an empty title. Let's leave it at that. Clean up the room and wait for Feng Ya to arrive before starting the banquet."
With a single sentence, Grandmother Jia silenced everyone. Aunt Xue understood perfectly, but why couldn't her own sister see things clearly? Yu Meng, Yu Meng, they were both destined to carry on the family line; how could she allow her brother to die without an heir?
"Oh dear, old lady, everyone says it's a double celebration, but today it's more than just double happiness. It's a pity the news came so suddenly, and I don't have anything ready. Let's put it in the books first: the Xue family's congratulatory gift is a thousand taels of silver, and there are also those books..."
As she spoke, she forgot her name and turned to Xue Baochai, since Baochai was in charge of the printing business. Seeing her mother's embarrassment, Xue Baochai smiled.
"Grandma, consider these newly printed Confucian classics from the bookstore as a congratulatory gift for Baoyu."
"Look at you all, Aunt Xue really knows how to talk!"
(End of this chapter)