Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 102 Jia Daishan

Falling behind Yue Ling, Qin Keqing was obedient and didn't ask any extra questions.

It was not until she walked out of the second door and came to the corridor of the main hall that Qin Keqing's heart began to waver. She had a premonition of what was going on.

It could only be that someone came looking for it.

"I hope it's not someone from Ningguo Mansion."

Qin Keqing closed her eyes, regulated her breathing, and calmed her mind. She continued to follow Yue Ling with her head down and stepped over the threshold of the main hall.

This was her first time to come to the main hall of the outer curtain.

The decoration is still luxurious, but much more solemn than the inner curtains.

What is eye-catching is a large nanmu table in the center of the hall. On the wall behind it is a pair of couplets hanging on both sides. The content is not important, but the golden signature at the bottom.

"In the thirty-fifth year of Yuanqing, the King of Qin proposed it."

There were two familiar figures sitting on the side.

Qin Keqing glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and remained silent, pretending not to see him. After Yue Ling took his seat, she stood beside him.

"Keqing? What are you doing?"

When Qin Ye saw his girl, he felt she was very unfamiliar. Although they were face to face, it seemed as if there was a huge gap between them.

However, apart from the couplets in the hall, Qin Ye from the Ministry of Works could tell at a glance that this place was decorated like a royal garden, so he did not dare to act rashly.

Yue Ling coughed lightly and said, "Mr. Qin, what is it that brings you to my house so late at night?"

Seeing the young man above, Qin Ye looked very old-fashioned, so he asked tentatively: "In this mansion..."

Before he could finish his words, Yue Ling interrupted him and said, "This mansion is my mansion, which was given to me by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I am Yue Ling, Director of the Privy Council, Associate Privy Councilor, and General Xuanwu."

One by one, words that shocked Qin Ye came out of Yue Ling's mouth calmly.

"The Privy Council?"

"Fourth rank?"

"He is both civil and military, and the prince will reward him with a house?"

Qin Ye's hands trembled slightly. He picked up the fragrant tea on the tea table, took a sip, and suppressed his excited emotions.

On the other side, Qin Zhong, who was already handsome with delicate features and fair skin, felt even weaker. He lost the courage he had when he came. He tugged at Qin Ye's sleeve shyly and whispered, "Dad, this is not a person we can afford to offend. Let Ningguo Mansion come."

Qin Ye shook his head and placed his hopes on his daughter. As long as his daughter was willing to go back with him, Yue Ling was not the emperor, so how could he stop her?
Qin Ye bowed respectfully, and then said, "Sir, I am here to look for my beloved daughter. Now that she has married into the Ningguo Mansion, how can she continue to stay in your house? I am afraid it will damage your reputation."

Reputation is what most literati value most, and they are even willing to sacrifice their lives for it, but Yue Ling is only willing to do what he thinks is right.

"When I brought Keqing back, I didn't know the inside story. But when I saw that Keqing was in trouble, I felt pity for her, so I took her in and settled her down in my house. Yesterday, I also submitted the documents to the government office, and this deed has come into effect."

"Moreover, the engagement with Ningguo Mansion was forced by Mr. Qin, or perhaps it was forced by the pressure from Ningguo Mansion. There is no reason to forcibly occupy a commoner girl. Even if you go to the government office to reason, it will be the same."

He took out a stack of papers from his bosom, showed them to the Qin family father and son, and then said: "Now, although Keqing is Mr. Qin's beloved daughter, she is also a person in my house, so the previous engagement is naturally invalid."

"As long as she is unwilling to leave the house and go home with the old gentleman, I will always protect her. Of course, I will not treat the old gentleman unfairly."

"Someone is coming."

At that moment, Jia Yun led a group of people and came in carrying a wooden box.

"Here is one thousand taels of silver and some land deeds. This is my consolation to the Qin family."

Seeing the huge pile of silver, Qin Zhong hurriedly pulled Qin Ye and said, "Dad, one thousand taels plus the land, this means you won't have to worry about food and drink for the rest of your life! You should agree to it soon, I think this master treats my sister very well. Look at the clothes he wears, they are better than those in Ningguo Mansion."

Qin Ye pushed Qin Zhong aside, looked at Qin Keqing, and asked, "Keqing, do you really not want to go back with your father?"

Qin Keqing bit her lip and said, "The master treats me very well, I won't go back."

Qin Ye felt heartbroken in this situation. If he had not been in another family's hall, he would probably have shed tears.

However, what Yue Ling said just now was right. He was indeed coerced and bribed by the Ningguo Mansion, and marrying off his daughter was really a helpless act.

At this moment, the price offered by Yue Ling was not low, even higher than the betrothal gift from Ningguo Mansion.

When Qin Ye was hesitating, he heard Yue Ling say, "I heard that the young master in your mansion has not yet started school?"

Qin Ye nodded woodenly, not knowing what Yue Ling meant.

Yue Ling added: "Old sir, you should know that high-ranking officials can recommend students for the Imperial College."

Qin Ye's eyes flashed. These words hit Qin Ye's soft spot and he could not hide the surprise on his face.

"My lord, what do you mean?"

Yue Ling nodded, "I can write a letter of recommendation for the young master and send it to the Imperial College. Of course, if the young master is uneducated and punished in the Imperial College, I will not only not cover it up, but will also hold him accountable. Old sir, be prepared."

Qin Ye stood up, clasped his hands and said, "In that case, if Keqing is willing to stay here, father will not say anything more. But as for Ningguo Mansion..."

Yue Ling said: "If you are not satisfied, let Jia Zhen come to find me." Hearing this, Qin Ye hurriedly pulled Qin Zhong to thank Yue Ling together.

Yue Ling ignored him and told Jia Yun, "Send a car to take you two back to the mansion."

Soon, Qin Keqing saw her father and brother leaving with the silver. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad, but she was overwhelmed and shed two tears silently.

Qin Keqing was crying like a pear blossom in the rain. Yue Ling couldn't bear it, so he stroked her head and comforted her: "It's okay. You can live peacefully in your room from now on. Don't be afraid of the Ningguo Mansion."

Qin Keqing couldn't bear it any longer, so she threw herself into Yue Ling's arms and started crying, choking with sobs, "I have no home anymore."

"This is your home..."

After a long while, Qin Keqing calmed down, stood up, wiped Yue Ling's tear-stained shoulders with a handkerchief, and whispered, "I will return the silver to the master."

"Silly girl, those are worth more than three thousand taels of silver. You only have three taels of silver a month. If you don't spend them all and save them up, it will take you more than eighty years to pay them back."

Qin Keqing was particularly serious.

"I will pay it back..."

……

outside the capital,
Before the city gates closed at night, several riders were seen signing documents and then galloping on the official road, stirring up a cloud of flying sand and rocks.

Behind a hill, a group of men in black were lying in ambush, watching the city gate from afar. The leader ordered, "This group of people is the last group going to Datong Prefecture today. It's time for us to move out. Follow them."

"As ordered."

The man in black followed the other party several miles behind him all the time, and followed the other party's steps and stops. It took several days to reach Datong Prefecture.

"Enter the city and keep an eye on where they are going. Secondly, pay attention to your own safety and do not reveal your identity. One day later, meet at the inn fifteen miles outside the east gate of the city."

"As ordered."

……

Outside the Great Wall, in the tent of the Northern Barbarian Khan.

That night, many lamps were lit inside the tent, illuminating the entire tent.

Tuji Khan held the letter in his hand, read it through, and the corners of his mouth gradually rose.

"Does the King of Qin think I haven't read Romance of the Three Kingdoms? It's just a trick to win people's hearts. The imitation is really too clumsy."

The person below responded, "The King of Qin was extremely restrained this time, which is indeed inconsistent with his usual style. Now is not a good time to go south."

Tuji Khan slapped the letter on the table and said with a smile: "Du Ke, you have been in the capital for a long time, how can you be so timid and cowardly. The King of Qin is also afraid that I will enter the pass in the autumn, so he sent people to contact the remnants. They are not powerful enough, and it is just a matter of moving a finger to deal with them."

"At the moment, the capital is the key."

"Someone is coming."

The guard outside the tent heard the voice and entered the tent, half-knelt on the ground and said, "Here."

Tuji Khan continued: "Send another letter to urge the Jurchens to come south and encircle the capital before winter comes. Otherwise, their assistance will be cut off."

Du Ke said with some concern: "Khan, are you so anxious? We can fight again next year."

Tuji Khan said confidently: "Next year? The King of Qin will have recovered by then. And how are we going to survive the winter this year?"

"The Dachang court is weak right now, and with the help of the newly rising Jurchens, it's a good time to attack the capital. King Qin is also afraid that we will go south, so he tried every means to hinder us."

"It's just a little trick, who can we hide it from? We can also use some tricks to write to Niu Jizong to ask for peace and some food and grass for the winter. We can buy them at a high price. If their supplies are insufficient, we can also go to the city to purchase them and agree not to start a war this year."

Du Ke nodded, "This is a good idea. We can test the attitude of the border troops first."

Tuji Khan laughed loudly, stood up and paced in the tent.

"I laugh at the King of Qin's lack of strategy and Yue Ling's lack of wisdom, and they are afraid that I will go south. Then I will definitely go south and catch him off guard!"

Du Ke curled his lips and said, "Yue Ling is quite capable in commanding an army, and the King of Qin has a record of conquering all over the world. They should not be underestimated."

Tuji Khan squinted at Du Ke and said, "So what? Didn't the old Duke Rong have a brilliant record in battle? He was still defeated by me. Come, follow me to see how miserable the old Duke is now."

The two of them left the big tent and came to a small tent that was heavily guarded. Inside the tent was a bed covered with sheepskin, a stove, and a few cabinets. The smell of medicine filled the air, and it was even a bit choking.

Lying on the bed was an old man, wearing light clothes. His body was covered with scars, all of which were old wounds. His face was listless, but his eyes were always open.

"Old Duke, I came to see you again today. Are you feeling better? You should know how much effort I put into saving you. The medicine on the grassland is not cheap. I also asked the Jurchens for ginseng from Changbai Mountain. The price is even higher. It can be exchanged for several war horses. When I enter the capital, you must pay me back with interest."

Jia Daishan seemed to be completely deaf to all this, his eyes were still dull and his expression showed no change.

Tuji Khan sighed and said, "Old Duke, don't pretend anymore. I know you can hear me. The doctor said that you have recovered well, but it is difficult to move your lower limbs. Your mind has long been clear. If you don't want to talk, then don't talk. I will take it as your tacit consent."

Jia Daishan glanced and saw Du Ke, his lips moved slightly...

　Day 5, 10,000!!!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)