Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 445: Accountability in the Palace
"Your Majesty, please move to the west warm pavilion. Your Majesty is still bathing in the hot spring."

"Thank you, eunuch. I will wait for your order here."

In front of the Qianqing Palace, Wang Ziteng was chatting and laughing with Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch in charge of the six palaces, and walked slowly into the side hall.

After the morning court session, His Majesty actually summoned him to discuss matters. For Wang Ziteng, this was the first time in history and he was truly flattered.

However, considering that today is the day when the Jia family comes to visit their relatives, His Majesty came to him to question him, most likely taking advantage of this opportunity.

Thinking of this, Wang Ziteng felt much more at ease.

But when he stepped over the threshold, he saw Yue Ling sitting in the upper seat in the hall. Wang Ziteng's face froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered and took the initiative to step forward and greet him.

"Your humble servant greets Duke Dingguo."

Yue Ling put down the teacup and politely raised his hand to support him. "General Wang? His Majesty also called you to discuss matters?"

After seeing Yue Ling, Wang Ziteng also became puzzled, thinking secretly, "When His Majesty came to convey the decree, he did not specify what he wanted to discuss, and the official who came to communicate was also tight-lipped about it. But if there is really a government matter to ask, Yue Ling is here, what else do you need to ask me?"

"Even Yue Ling is quite familiar with military affairs. Could it be that the Jurchens in Liaodong have been active recently and someone is needed to take charge?"

"But my achievements and experience are not enough to take on this important task. Could it be that the influence of the Jia family is so strong?"

Wang Ziteng's mind was full of thoughts, but he couldn't figure out his thoughts. He could only smile and ask, "I hope the governor can give me some advice."

"Instructions?" Yue Ling shook his head and said, "It's not really instructions. Your Majesty asked me to come here for the imperial examination, which should have nothing to do with General Wang."

"This……"

Wang Ziteng was speechless for a moment and had to say yes.

Afterwards, there was a long silence between the two of them, which was so awkward that even Wang Ziteng, a rough man, felt a little awkward.

Once upon a time, when Yue Ling was just becoming successful, he shamelessly wanted to win him over and become his in-law.

Looking back now, it's really funny.

"Forget it. Everyone has their own way out. Although I am not as good as Yue Ling, I have caught the eye of His Majesty with the momentum of the Jia family. Even if I cannot be made a marquis or a prime minister, I can still support the Wang family and remain true to my original intention."

Before he could finish, a eunuch entered and called in a low voice, "Sir Wang, His Majesty has summoned you to see the king."

"it's me?"

Wang Ziteng couldn't help but be surprised again.

He looked at Yue Ling again, his face was calm and he was not surprised at all.

This made Wang Ziteng even more puzzled, and he even had a bad feeling.

It was known to all the court officials how much Yue Ling was trusted by His Majesty. Even if His Majesty summoned him, how could he be ranked before Yue Ling?
Could it be an extremely urgent military situation?

This is the only possibility.

Wang Ziteng made up his mind, so he bowed and said goodbye to Yue Ling, then turned around and left with the eunuch.

Yue Ling, who stayed where he was, just glanced slightly, shook his head, and picked up the teacup at hand.

"I, Wang Ziteng, the commander of the Beijing Camp, come to see Your Majesty."

"Flat body."

After a simple greeting, there was another period of silence.

Emperor Longyou did not speak, and Wang Ziteng did not dare to look up. He could only hear the sound of memorials being flipped through behind the imperial desk, which made Wang Ziteng feel infinitely stressed.

It seems that this is not an urgent military situation since he is so tepid.

After swallowing, Wang Ziteng lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead when Emperor Longyou suddenly threw a memorial in front of him and said coldly, "Open it and take a look."

"Yes."

Wang Ziteng took the memorial in a panic, and his face changed drastically when he opened the first page.

"Shuangyu Island military intelligence: According to investigation, those who secretly colluded with the Japanese pirates include Zhen Yinghan and Zhen Yingjia from the Zhen family in Nanjing, Zhao Deyong and Zhao Yu from the Zhao family in Suzhou, and Wang Zisheng from the Wang family in Nanjing..."

His hands trembled slightly, and beads of sweat fell on the memorial. Wang Ziteng wiped them off hastily, and then flipped through the contents, which were full of impeachment.

"finish watching?"

Wang Ziteng knelt heavily on the ground and kowtowed, saying: "I am guilty, Your Majesty, please punish me."

Faced with corruption and abuse of power, Emperor Longyou rarely lost his temper, but instead exchanged a glance with Xia Shouzhong.

Xia Shouzhong bowed and accepted the order. He walked to Wang Ziteng who was kowtowing continuously and took out another file from his sleeve.

"Master Wang, take a look at this first."

Wang Ziteng seemed to have found a ray of hope in despair. He took it in a hurry, and then looked at it again. It turned out to be solid evidence that the Jia family had exceeded the standards in renovating the villa for the imperial visit and had abused their power for personal gain.

There seemed to be another roar in his head. Wang Ziteng bit his lip and said, "Your Majesty, I am a guilty subject..."

Emperor Longyou coughed lightly and interrupted, "The Jia family is so rude and extravagant, they are really unworthy of being relatives of the emperor. Today, I order you to go to Rongguo Mansion to thoroughly investigate all the evidence of the Jia family's crimes. No one who violates the law will be tolerated. If you cover up for your relatives and do not report it, you know the consequences."

Wang Ziteng responded, "I understand. I will set off now."

Emperor Longyou stood up, walked down with his hands behind his back, and passed by Wang Ziteng, saying, "Let's go after midnight. I want to give Concubine Xian De the last bit of respect. After all, she didn't do much wrong."

"I obey your order..."

When he walked out of the Qianqing Palace, Wang Ziteng had changed from his initial radiant appearance to a dusty and dirty face. There was even a bruise on his forehead from a bump, which was still faintly oozing with blood, causing him to bend down unconsciously to avoid being seen by others.

Unfortunately, before he walked out of the corridor, someone blocked his way.

"General Wang, please wait a moment."

Staring at Yue Ling's official robe, Wang Ziteng clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Your humble servant is here."

Yue Ling patted his shoulder comfortingly and said, "My family members are still in Rongguo Mansion. I hope General Wang can take care of them. Don't offend them."

Wang Ziteng raised his head in astonishment, then turned his head to look in the direction of the hall, feeling even more bitter in his heart. He nodded and said, "I will keep it in mind."

"Thank you very much."

……

The imperial courtyard, the main hall,
The ceremonial eunuch led the way and brought many people from the Jia family to meet.

The eldest master Jia She, the second master Jia Zheng, as well as Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Li Gongcai and their peers Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan of the Cao generation entered one after another.

Jia Yuanchun, who had just cried with her sisters, sat high in the center of the room on a gilded sandalwood chair. A curtain hung in the middle, preventing the people below from seeing Yuanchun's red eyes.

In her eyes, the Jia family had reached its end, and she had also reached her end.

It was so ironic that the joyous visit to the parents turned into a funeral for the Jia family.

Now, facing her old relatives again, although Jia Yuanchun had infinite thoughts to express, she was no longer in the mood to speak. Her only hope was the other three sisters. Whether they had a past with Yue Ling or not, it was all known in the capital. According to Yue Ling's temper, he would not abandon them.

However, no one in front of the hall knew what was going on.

When they were called in to meet her, Yuanchun said nothing. Now there was a difference between the emperor and his subjects, and even as Yuanchun's parents, Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang did not dare to speak first.

The atmosphere was so depressing that Jia She bowed and broke the silence first, saying, "Your Highness, we are here to see you. Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun are still in the mansion, and the other ladies have not arrived yet."

Jia Yuanchun took a deep breath and said in a cold voice: "I have already met them. Besides, isn't there still a future for the old lady?"

Everyone looked at each other and lowered their heads, knowing that Jia Yuanchun was not in a good mood.

Holding the zither, she walked out of the curtain and led many visitors from the palace to avoid the taboo. Only then did Jia Yuanchun perk up a bit and said, "First-class general Jia She and the deputy minister of the Ministry of Works Jia Zheng."

"The minister is here."

"I have repeatedly warned against extravagance and extravagance, but shouldn't you two give me an explanation for the current situation in the garden?"

Jia Yuanchun's tone was very cold. Originally, she didn't want to waste any more words during this final period, but she got furious when Jia She deliberately exposed Sanchun's faults.

The two of them knelt down in panic, and Jia She hurriedly said, "Please calm down, my noble concubine, please calm down. The visit is a golden age for the Jia family. After the Rong and Ning mansions have discussed it together, they still need to hold a grand ceremony to clear up the decline of the Jia family in recent years. The old lady also means this."

Jia Zheng also nodded repeatedly, and continued, "Although some complications have been added this time, it is far from being extravagant and lavish. Everything is done in accordance with the etiquette of the imperial concubine's visit to her parents during the previous emperor's time."

Jia Yuanchun smiled bitterly and said, "The main hall is decorated in gold and jade, and its decoration is comparable to that of an imperial palace. Don't you two think that this is overstepping your authority?"

"This……"

Jia She and Jia Zheng were both at a loss again.

The residence for the imperial visit was indeed built by skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, and its decoration was only slightly better than that of the Duke's Mansion built by imperial decree.

But it is just this little bit, and it can be regarded as an overstepping of one's authority to make a fuss about it.

"That was the old lady's intention. We were just following her instructions."

Jia Yuanchun sneered a few times, then turned to Mrs. Wang and said, "Since I entered the palace, I have often sent letters home asking you to take good care of the younger generation. If you are not strict, they will not become useful. What are you doing today?"

"Jia Lian, you are sleeping with prostitutes outside, Baoyu is rolling around in rouge inside, is there any one of you who is willing to study and pass the imperial examination?"

"Even if you are not good at studying, are you willing to practice in the military? Don't you know where the achievements of your ancestors came from, and where the wealth you enjoy now comes from?"

"I forgot that I wanted to take a shortcut to revive the Jia family, but now I have brought disaster upon myself!"

Everyone was shocked and lowered their heads in fear.

Jia Baoyu was even more frightened.

Before, Grandmother Jia had told him that good days would come when the elder sister returned to the Jia family. With the elder sister's return, the Jia family would have hope, and he would not have to worry about Yue Ling and others all day long.

But now, it was completely different from what Lady Jia said, and the eldest sister was the first to attack them.

Her own baby shivered when she heard this. Looking at Baoyu who had just recovered from a serious illness, Mrs. Wang felt really distressed and pleaded, "My Lady, Baoyu is still young. When he grows up, he will surely be as diligent and studious as Zhuge'er."

Trying to use her deceased brother to awaken Jia Yuanchun's family affection no longer works.

Now Jia Yuanchun is ready to die and can no longer hold back from speaking out.

Before her father-in-law passed away, a suicide note was handed to her.

The letter mentioned that the decline of the Jia family was unstoppable, and if he were to be favored again, he would be unworthy of his position and would face disaster.

At that time, Jia Yuanchun could not understand what it meant, but now she understands it all.

She constantly reminded herself that she had to do something for the family to reverse its decline, but she didn't expect to end up in this situation.

She probably couldn't even imagine how much regret the old master, who had spent his entire life in military service and had made countless military achievements, had before his death.

However, in the old master's letter, it was also mentioned that if the situation could be turned around, try to save the descendants, especially the second wife's great-grandson Jia Lan, who was the hope of the Jia family to continue the incense.

Jia Yuanchun knew very little about this nephew. She only knew that he was the posthumous son of her eldest brother Jia Zhu and she had never seen him.

Jia Zhu was like a lotus flower that grew out of the mud in the mansion without being stained. He was studious and had no disdain for anything but a playboy. However, he died early due to his poor health.

It was as if God intentionally took back the seed of learning that had accidentally fallen into the Jia family.

Now, hearing her mother, Lady Wang, mention Jia Zhu, Jia Yuanchun was furious again, "How ridiculous! How can they compare with my brother? My brother used to study by lamplight at night, and when he heard the cock crow, he would start reading before the cock crowed, and he would be as calm as the stars. Who of them can do that?"

"I'm afraid he's addicted to alcohol and sex every day. Brother is not as good as them!"

Mrs. Wang's face turned red, she lowered her head in shame, and could not utter a word.

Then, Jia Yuanchun softened her tone a little and said, "Brother Lan, come forward."

Jia Lan, who was held in Li Wan's arms, broke free from his mother's arms and replied, "Your Highness, I am here."

Then he whispered to his mother, "Mother, the Imperial Concubine is calling me. Don't worry about me. I study martial arts diligently every day and have done nothing wrong."

"Okay, okay." Looking at the well-behaved and sensible Jia Lan, Li Wan's eyes were filled with tears and her heart was full of comfort.

When Jia Lan pushed aside the curtain and walked in, he bowed first and said, "Lan'er greets the Imperial Concubine. I wish the Imperial Concubine good health."

Jia Lan is still a boy, but he is not at all stage-frightened and is very polite, which makes Jia Yuanchun's eyes light up.

"Good boy, stand up. I heard that you studied hard when you were young. Is that true?"

Jia Lan nodded and replied, "Reporting to the queen, Lan'er was educated by several uncles when he was young, and has already started reading the Four Books and Five Classics."

I never thought that such a poor Jia family would have such a hardworking descendant.

It’s a pity that Jia Lan is too young and the Jia family can’t wait for him.

Jia Yuanchun waved her hand and said, "Come closer and let aunt have a look."

Raising her hand and pinching Jia Lan's arm, she found that he was not as frail as he looked. Jia Yuanchun asked in surprise, "Have you ever practiced martial arts?"

"Lan'er practices horse riding and archery for an hour every day. My mother raised a pony for me, and it has been with me for three years."

The more Jia Yuanchun looked at this younger generation, the more she liked him. She called for Baoqin to come and give him new books, a precious inkstone, and gold and silver coins.

But just at this moment, there was movement in front of the door again.

Before seeing the person, I heard a few heavy coughs. Then, supported by maids on both sides, the white-haired Lady Jia walked in with a hunched back.

When the grandfather and grandson met again, the friendship between them was no longer as strong as before.

"Brother Lang, go back first. Study hard and don't neglect your martial arts."

"Lan'er obeys your command. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

(End of this chapter)