Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 474 The Marriage-Urging Squad Has Arrived

Emperor Longyou's suspension of court lasted for several months, from midsummer to late autumn.

However, the turmoil in the capital showed no signs of abating.

However, the affairs of state could not be neglected. The ministers remonstrated tirelessly and took the initiative to bow their heads and admit their mistakes to Emperor Longyou, taking responsibility for the current chaos in the capital. Finally, the tone in the palace softened somewhat.

Emperor Longyou was already dealing with some urgent court matters, and the Secretariat had begun receiving and sending memorials, but the reform of the imperial examination system was still unresolved.

However, the "Great Debate at the Imperial Lectures" presided over by civil officials was highly regarded by many. The students in the capital cleverly transformed the conflict into a campaign to promote the "Great Debate at the Imperial Lectures," creating an unprecedented battle for the orthodox tradition.

Because in their eyes, they were certain of victory.

If Yue Ling does not fight, he will be a coward, and his reforms will not be accepted by the people. Even Emperor Longyou may be swayed by this.

If he were to accept the challenge, how could a nobleman of military background argue with a Confucian scholar who was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics?
They even felt that there was no need for renowned scholars to appear; simply selecting a few from the Hanlin Academy would suffice.

Nothing is more exhilarating than seeing your enemy make a fool of himself.

So the capital was in turmoil, and the situation reached another climax.

A group of students, having been spreading the word about the "Great Debate at the Imperial Academy" all over the streets, were parched and exhausted, so they stopped at a tea stall to rest and have some tea.

Although his legs were free now, he still couldn't help but make slanderous remarks about Yue Ling.

"I have never seen such a shameless person! A mere warrior, without any formal training or even a verifiable teacher, dares to presume to instruct us students who have studied diligently for decades, and even dares to attempt to change the imperial examination system that has been passed down for thousands of years. Where does his audacity come from?"

"Brother, calm down. His confidence naturally comes from the capital."

The person next to him poured tea while comforting him, "However, good news has recently spread throughout the capital. It seems that His Majesty has also become impatient and wants to bring about this 'Grand Debate on the Classics.' The grand ambition of thousands of scholars will finally come true soon!"

As the impassioned speech unfolded, those around him grew increasingly eager to join the discussion, eager to participate in this "grand debate."

"Have you heard that recently, the four great Confucian families of Jiangnan—Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang—have all sent their descendants to the capital? The Gu family, in particular, has a patriarch, Gu Yanting, who is considered one of the two literary giants alongside the current Duke Yansheng. He has personally come to the capital to stand up for us scholars and plead for our cause!"

A bystander asked in astonishment, "Could it be the Gu family, whose students are all over the world and whose members have served as imperial tutors several times? I've heard that the current Gu family patriarch's students are also scattered throughout the imperial court."

"It must be the Gu family, of course. Could it be that someone would dare to impersonate the Gu family and try to take advantage of us at this time of year?"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, and someone couldn't help but wonder, "In the past, the Duke of Dingguo provided disaster relief and fought against Japanese pirates in Jiangnan, which greatly benefited the people of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Is Master Gu's visit to the capital truly to support us?"

Because the students in the capital were not all of one mind, and there were oddities like the "Qingfeng Academy" that raised the banner of supporting the Duke of Dingguo, which often caused friction.

There were also students from the Jiangnan region who discussed the Duke of Dingguo's actions in Jiangnan and offered their own explanations for him, saying, "We should discuss the matter objectively and not erase his past achievements," which contradicted the general public's views.

Therefore, many people have become more cautious.

"Don't worry, someone has already gone to the inn where the Gu family is temporarily staying to find out what's going on. The head of the Gu family was invited to give lectures in Guangdong and Guangxi, and he had never met the Duke of Dingguo before. The two have no old acquaintance."

"Moreover, the first place the Gu family head visited upon arriving in the capital was the Mei family. As native Beijingers, don't you know about the Mei family?"

Everyone's eyes widened immediately, filled with excitement and eager anticipation. "You mean, the current head of the Hanlin Academy, Grand Secretary Mei, will also be involved?"

The narrator nodded calmly as he spoke.

There were plenty of people around him applauding and cheering. "Master Mei's experience can be described as legendary. He was already famous in his childhood and was known as a child prodigy. Later, his family suffered a sudden change and he had no choice but to embark on the path of education. This journey was naturally arduous, but it also forged his vision that was higher than that of ordinary people."

"After completing his studies, he returned to the capital and passed the imperial examination with flying colors—it was nothing short of miraculous. Now he is compiling history books at the Hanlin Academy, and the commentaries on the classics studied at the Imperial Academy are all annotated by him, unchanged for fifty years. Such a gifted talent is even willing to condescend to represent us scholars in the 'Great Debate at the Imperial Lectures.' How could we not be victorious?"

The narrator laughed and said, "Victory is victory, of course. It must be a complete victory. We must expose the Duke of Dingguo's lack of talent and knowledge in front of His Majesty, in front of all the civil and military officials, and in front of all the students in the city."

"Aren't the Jurchens going to move south? The Duke of Dingguo happens to be exceptionally skilled in martial arts, so it would be good to send him to Liaodong to guard the border."

The onlookers burst into laughter, "Isn't that the same as sending the Duke of Dingguo to a desolate and cold place?"

The narrator shrugged. "Who told those eccentric scholars from 'Qingfeng Academy' to say that even hundreds of thousands of our students couldn't defeat a Duke of Dingguo? In terms of martial prowess, he might really be able to take on ten thousand men single-handedly. Wouldn't it be perfect for him to go to Liaodong to fight against the Jurchen's iron hooves? We'll really have to see if he can take on ten thousand men then!"

……

Inside the Imperial City, in the Kunning Palace,
When Emperor Longyou was in a bad mood and couldn't shake it off, he would unconsciously walk to the Empress's palace.

When Emperor Longyou walked in with a frown, the Empress already understood.

He instructed the palace maids to go outside and cook soup, leaving the old couple to talk in the bedroom.

The Empress helped Emperor Longyou sit down, removed his embroidered shoes, knelt on the bed, and gently massaged his forehead.

"Your Majesty has been working hard for a long time, it would be good for you to rest a bit more."

Emperor Longyou sighed and said, "Reports came from the Nine Borders today that the brother of Tuji Khan of the Northern Barbarians has integrated the various tribes of the grasslands and is showing signs of making a comeback. However, they have deployed troops on the border and have taken the initiative to contact the border soldiers, wanting to ask for a princess in marriage and form a marriage alliance with our dynasty."

"Perhaps they felt threatened by the Jurchens and had no choice but to seek protection."

The Empress was very puzzled. "But there are no princesses in the court now, so what about a county princess?"

Emperor Longyou sighed, "Perhaps it is not impossible, but who would be willing to marry their woman to such a harsh and cold place? I do not wish for a marriage alliance."

Almost instinctively, the Empress said, "Then let Yue Ling lead troops deeper into the northern desert, or perhaps go to Liaodong to wipe out the enemy's stronghold?"

Emperor Longyou shook his head. "He's already busy enough. It's admirable that he's risking his long-accumulated reputation against the overwhelming public opinion. From now on, matters in the capital will still depend on him."

"Is it the 'Great Debate at the Imperial Lectures'?"

Emperor Longyou knew that the news, which was being spread throughout the capital, could not be kept from the Empress, so he was not surprised and simply nodded.

The Empress pressed further, "What are Your Majesty's plans?"

Emperor Longyou replied, “According to the secret correspondence between me and Yue Ling, he said that the more grand the event, the better. I really don’t know what makes him so confident that he wants to make this event like an epic debate.”

"Not only will I attend, but all the civil and military officials and thousands of students will also listen in. I'm afraid the entire Wenhua Hall won't be able to accommodate them all."

Thinking of this, Emperor Longyou was puzzled again. "The other side is the Mei family, Grand Secretaries of the Imperial Court, and the four great scholars of Jiangnan. Their debating skills are probably unmatched in the court. Especially since Yue Ling is currently unpopular, how can he possibly win an argument with them?" The Empress clenched her fists and said angrily, "Why are all these people making things difficult for him? He is clearly working for Your Majesty, yet he doesn't even respect Your Majesty."

Emperor Longyou was fully aware of the situation, but he still argued with the Empress, "This has become a struggle over the orthodoxy, which I cannot stop. Thousands of scholars rely on the imperial examinations for their livelihood, and powerful academic families use this as their foundation to control power. If their foundation is shaken, they will be no different from being dead."

"Reform itself is a transfer of benefits, and the party that is deprived of benefits will naturally not be willing. In the past, whether I used thunder to suppress nobles or deal with corrupt officials, they were guilty, and I was punishing evil and promoting good."

"But now, Yue Ling is the villain in the eyes of countless students, and even I have to take public opinion into consideration."

The Empress asked worriedly, "What will happen if Yue Ling loses this match?"

Emperor Longyou seemed to have already considered this many times in his mind, and said without hesitation: "It won't involve his life. At worst, he can leave the capital to avoid the storm and go to the border to make use of his strengths. Once he has military merits, he will have a reason to return to the capital."

The Empress pondered for a long time, gazing beyond the screen at the letter on the desk destined for the Duke of Dingguo's residence. She sighed and said, "If that day truly comes, Your Majesty should bestow a marriage upon him as soon as possible, to encourage him so that he will not become disheartened."

This was the first time since Emperor Longyou entered that he acknowledged the Empress's words: "What the Empress said is absolutely right. I will take it into consideration."

……

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion is currently in a state of utter chaos.

It wasn't just about the "Great Debate at the Imperial Academy" that outsiders were talking about; the sudden arrival of two pregnant women in a mansion run by a group of young girls left everyone somewhat at a loss.

They dared not run around anymore, and even dared not speak loudly, for fear of doing something wrong that would have a negative impact on the two pregnant women.

The two concubines of the Lin family, Concubine Zhou and Concubine Bai, were in high spirits.

Their youthful years have long since passed, but they have rediscovered their former vitality by being with these girls. Now that they can move in sooner and be reunited, how could they not be content?

Upon arriving at the main hall, the two sat side by side. Looking around, they noticed that the girl's figure had expanded considerably within the mansion, and they were momentarily stunned.

Aunt Zhou asked doubtfully, "Miss, are all these from the manor?"

Lin Daiyu nodded, somewhat helpless at the reactions of her two aunts.

After all, the Lin family only had two concubines, while her family already had more than twenty.

Lin Daiyu sighed softly, rubbing her forehead, and said with an awkward smile, "That's right, Brother Yue... he's very capable, and it's easy to understand why he's admired by so many girls."

Lin Daiyu wanted to say that he was a vigorous and lecherous man, but she was too ashamed to say it.

After Aunt Zhou looked around carefully again, she realized that these girls really came in all types, and none of them were the same.

Leaving aside the girls in those small opera troupes, there are charming and lovely girls, cute and lively girls, gentle and charming girls, timid and shy girls, and even a monk who practices with his hair still intact. If you add a Taoist priest, you'll have the whole group.

While marveling at Yue Ling's robust health, the two also expressed deep sympathy for Lin Daiyu's difficulties in managing her household.

Seeing the pitying looks in their eyes, Lin Daiyu had no choice but to break the awkward silence and hurriedly asked, "How are you two concubines feeling? Have you had any appetite lately? I'll have the servants prepare some suitable food."

Aunt Zhou said, "Nothing else is wrong, but I've been craving spicy food along the way. If you could find some for me to satisfy my cravings, that would be wonderful."

Aunt Bai suddenly realized, "So it's you too, sister? Miss, I've been holding back for a long time, it's perfect to eat with you."

After Lin Daiyu made a note of it, she didn't forget to ask the two doctors if they had any dietary restrictions before instructing the servants to prepare.

Looking back, Lin Daiyu was also very puzzled. These two women, who had lived in Jiangnan for a long time, preferred spicy food. Shouldn't they eat light and bland food like her?

However, without asking any further questions, Lin Daiyu, fearing that the two would be tired, arranged for them to go to a small garden that had been prepared in advance to rest.

But after being separated for so long, the two seemed to have endless things to say to each other.

As Aunt Zhou had already spoken, Aunt Bai spoke up again, "I heard that the Rongguo Mansion has already had its property confiscated and its inhabitants exiled? Even the old lady has been executed?"

Lin Daiyu nodded, neither confirming nor denying, "The body has been retrieved, and people have been instructed to bury it."

Aunt Bai sighed, "I suppose she can't be buried in the Jia family's ancestral tomb either?"

"Yes, the Ningguo Mansion is also very unwilling."

"Very well, even if Miss were alive, she would agree to the young lady's arrangement. After all, the old lady has done too many wrong things."

Changing the subject, Aunt Zhou inquired about what she had heard along the way, "I heard that the young master encountered some trouble in the capital? Is it resolved?"

The moment Lin Daiyu heard her aunt call him "son-in-law," her mind went blank, and she couldn't immediately recall who it was referring to. Only when others secretly covered their mouths and laughed did her eyes regain some clarity, and her cheeks flushed pink again.

“How can you say that, Aunt? The engagement hasn’t even been finalized yet. Brother Yue and I are both completely innocent.”

After saying that, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but look at her right hand.

Aunt Zhou chuckled and said, "At a time like this, why are you still being shy?"

Looking around again, the two concubines exchanged glances and both nodded.

This mysterious demeanor left Lin Daiyu completely baffled. But the next second, Aunt Zhou leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I'm afraid it's precisely because you're so aloof, Miss, that so many people have come into the household, which has ironically facilitated their good deed."

Lin Daiyu's cheeks burned, and she quickly helped her aunt back to sit down.

"It's alright, it's alright, he can handle it, so there's no need to worry."

Aunt Bai suggested, "Why don't we ask the master for his opinion? After all, he is a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations and has a deep understanding of the process. He should be able to help."

This gets to the heart of the matter. Lin Daiyu pondered for a moment and agreed, "Auntie is right. I should write a letter home to ask Father about it."

Aunt Zhou asked in confusion, "Has the young lady not written a letter home since she came to the capital? I remember that she took it upon herself to sneak away, and the master was really angry. Shouldn't she write a letter home to comfort him?"

Lin Daiyu stuck out her tongue, "I forgot, I'll write it tonight..."

(End of this chapter)