Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 493 Let's get down to business, stop joking around.
Inside the Dingguo Mansion, lanterns and colorful decorations were everywhere, and even the roadside trees were draped with red silk, swaying in the wind like large red butterflies.

The flagstone pavement was already packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, some even crowding into the earthen pits on the side.

Dressed in fine silks and brocades, they considered it a great honor to receive a congratulatory gift from Dingguo Mansion. Everyone was beaming with joy, chatting and laughing with each other.

They were all unconsciously listening to the chanting outside the door.

"General Wang Ziteng, Commander of the Nine Gates, and Duke He are overjoyed! We present two Ferghana horses from the Western Regions and ten fine steel swords!"

Under the gaze of the crowd, Wang Ziteng lowered his head in shame and walked along a less crowded path.

It wasn't that he was ostracized by his colleagues in officialdom after the Rongguo Mansion's confiscation of property, but rather that he remembered his past visit to Yue Ling's house, hoping to bring about a marriage between the two families.

At that time, he even had the audacity to promote his own daughter, how could Yue Ling possibly be interested in her?

He was able to take up the position of Commander of the Capital Garrison thanks to Yue Ling's influence, and he was already filled with gratitude.

He was certainly not stingy with his money; two Akhal-Teke horses with excellent coats were already priceless, almost giving away half of Wang Ziteng's fortune.

But when he arrived, he saw people of even higher rank and power behind him, so he walked into the crowd to avoid the limelight.

"Grand Secretary Chai, on the joyous occasion of Duke He's wedding, presents a bushel of pearls from the East China Sea and a 'Hundred Years of Harmony' screen carved from golden nanmu wood!"

The official in charge of ceremonies, dispatched by the Ministry of Rites, loudly announced the ceremony at the gate. His voice echoed through the courtyard and reached the ears of the onlookers.

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Old Chai is usually quite frugal, with only his wife at home, and he never participates in such banquets. It seems that the Duke of Dingguo has a lot of influence."

"Of course, the Duke of Dingguo's influence goes without saying, and these pearls are also of fine quality. I'm afraid Elder Chai must have gone to great lengths to find them."

The chatter was lively, but it quieted down again when the next person walked in.

"The Prince of Beijing and the Prince of Shui, and the Duke of He, are a perfect match! We present to you a landscape painting by a famous artist from the previous dynasty, and a pair of white jade ruyi scepters!"

Adorned with a pure white hat with silver wings and tassels, and dressed in a white python robe with five-clawed dragons riding on the river and sea, Shui Rong arrived in the arena with imposing steps.

At this moment, Jia Yun, the steward of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, immediately emerged from the crowd and greeted Chai Xiang and Shui Rong apologetically, saying, "Today there are many guests, far exceeding expectations. My master is still busy in the courtyard and cannot spare the time to greet you two gentlemen. I will lead the way. I hope you two gentlemen will forgive me."

Today was Yue Ling's wedding day, and Jia Yun greeted the two of them with sincere and polite words, so the two of them did not feel that they were being neglected.

Shui Rong, who had come before, smiled and tried to smooth things over, saying, "The Duke of Dingguo is naturally busy with state affairs and has forgotten about family matters. With his abilities, the whole capital should be celebrating for him, yet he says he didn't expect it."

"Very well, you don't need to come with the two of us. Elder Chai, would you do me the honor of accompanying me into the hall to witness the ceremony?"

Chai Pu stroked his pale beard and said with a smile, "Your Highness is too kind. Please go first."

The two spoke very distantly, just like in the imperial court, with a clear distinction that could be discerned with the naked eye.

One was a leading civil official, and the other a head of noble families; it would be abnormal for the two to have any connection. It was also a rare occurrence for them to appear at the same banquet.

With everyone eager to see what would happen, they followed Chai Pu and Prince Bei Jing into the hall.

If Yue Ling doesn't come out to greet us personally, then probably no more distinguished guests will come today.

Shui Rong took the seat at the main banquet without hesitation and gestured for Chai Pu to sit down as well.

Chai Pu smiled and shook his head, walked around a few seats, and sat opposite Shui Rong. Then he poured himself some tea.

Shui Rong gently waved his folding fan and said with a smile, "His Majesty truly dotes on the Duke of Dingguo. The scale of this wedding is truly magnificent, with a ten-mile-long red procession, a spectacle that even princes and princesses have never witnessed. Even the gate of my residence was adorned with the character for 'double happiness,' making one wonder if I was about to take a concubine."

Chai Pu chuckled and joked, "Your Highness should take a few concubines to have more children. Look at the Duke of Dingguo, he has countless mistresses in his household, he's sure to have a large and prosperous family in the future."

Shui Rong sneered, "I'll return those words to you."

Sure enough, the two started arguing less than two minutes after sitting down.

After all, in the imperial court, civil and military officials were irreconcilable enemies, and others had become accustomed to it.

However, since there was nothing else to see, they all pretended to be lost in thought, tilting their bodies or using the corner of their eyes to measure the situation of the main banquet.

With a scoff, Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, feigned disdain and turned his head to one side.

"This is not the imperial court today, and we are not here to quarrel. If you want to quarrel, why don't we go and quarrel under His Majesty's desk, so as not to disturb the Duke of Dingguo's good time."

"As you wish."

"you!"

The two were about to begin their second battle when a commotion suddenly arose in the crowd, and the announcer's voice drifted in.

"Prince Zhongshun and Duke He are a perfect match! They present a 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness' ornament crafted from pure gold and a Suzhou embroidery scroll depicting 'A Hundred Sons and a Thousand Grandsons'!"

"Prince Zhongshun?"

Suddenly, the people around started talking amongst themselves.

Although Prince Bei Jing is a hereditary prince, he is not a true member of the imperial family. Prince Zhong Shun, on the other hand, is the most prestigious member of the imperial family besides the current emperor.

In particular, he himself did not have the demeanor of a spoiled brat, but rather valued martial arts. He had previously fought alongside Emperor Longyou in campaigns to the south and north, and had also made great contributions in battle.

In terms of military and political affairs, if anyone could rival Prince Bei Jing, it would be Prince Zhong Shun.

However, his status as a member of the clan is sensitive, and he never attends such occasions, making him even rarer than Chai Pu, which drew everyone's attention.

Clearly, neither Chai Pu nor Shui Rong had expected that Prince Zhongshun would come in person, so they both stood up and greeted him with clasped hands.

"See you, Your Majesty."

Prince Chungshun was quite nonchalant, helping the two of them up with both hands.

"You two are still so at odds. I could hear you arguing even before you stepped inside. Today is Yue Ling's, no, the Duke of Dingguo's, big day. Don't let the two of you ruin it, or we'll become a laughing stock."

Shui Rong smiled and nodded, explaining that she had just been joking, but a hint of surprise was hidden in her eyes.

Rumor has it that Prince Zhongshun suffered several wounds after the battle in the capital and has been recuperating in his residence, hiding from the court. Unexpectedly, when he reappeared today, the arm supporting him was still strong and powerful.

It seems the rumors are unfounded; most likely, Prince Zhongshun was rescued by Yue Ling on the city wall that day and was unharmed.

Looking at it this way, the entire plan will have to be changed again.

The martial-minded Prince Zhongshun would certainly prefer the second prince Liu Yi, who also practiced martial arts, rather than the eldest prince Liu An, adding uncertainty to everything.

"Your Highness is very kind to send a painting of 'a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons.' It would be a real pity if the Duke of Dingguo did not have many descendants in such a large mansion."

Hearing the Prince of Beijing's teasing words, Prince Zhongshun laughed and replied, "With that boy's abilities, I'm afraid that after he gets married and these shackles are removed, his family will flourish within a year or two." Upon hearing this, the people around couldn't help but smile.

The three sat facing each other at a table. They were the most distinguished people in the hall, but they were seated in a triangle, which looked rather disharmonious.

They seemed to be refusing to yield to each other.

Jia Yun, leading the servants of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, was entertaining the guests. Seeing the scene of the main banquet, he hurried to report to the inner chamber.

……

Today, the weather seems to be cooperating; it's still early spring, but the sun is shining brightly, and it's warm both inside and outside the house.

Lin Daiyu, sitting in front of the dressing mirror doing her makeup, still looked very flustered, and her palms were sweaty with nervousness.

Although she was still several hundred steps away from the outer curtain, Lin Daiyu could almost hear the sounds of firecrackers exploding and guests laughing and joking outside, which made her even more nervous.

Zijuan meticulously styled Lin Daiyu's hair, her face beaming with a happy smile. Looking at Lin Daiyu's pale face reflected in the bronze mirror, she comforted her, saying, "Miss, you are incredibly beautiful today, why are you so nervous?"

"Furthermore, the girls we saw at the welcoming banquet were also wearing veils."

Lin Daiyu's small hands, unsure of what to do, trembled as she held them in front of her. She bit her lip to utter, "I...I'm beautiful?"

Zijuan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Miss is blinded by happiness. Does your beauty need others to judge it? I guarantee that when the master lifts the veil, he will be stunned by what he sees."

Her face, which had been pale with fear, immediately flushed red with Zijuan's prompting, causing Zijuan's hand, which was about to apply rouge, to pause.

"It seems that this rouge is unnecessary. I'm afraid that when the bride meets the master in the bridal chamber, her cheeks will be redder than the lanterns hanging outside."

Lin Daiyu looked at herself in the mirror, wearing an elegant and gorgeous bright red wedding dress with phoenix and cloud patterns, and the pearl tassels on her headdress trembled slightly with her breath.

Her cheeks were indeed very red, and Lin Daiyu also vaguely felt a burning sensation, the color of peach blossoms.

After hearing what Zijuan said, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but scold her coquettishly, "Zijuan, don't talk nonsense!"

There was not a trace of anger in her reproachful tone, but sweetness was undeniable.

"Sister Lin, quite a few guests have arrived outside. I'll go over there and take care of them. The matchmaker will come to fetch you soon. Don't be afraid, I'll be here for you."

Suddenly, Yue Ling's voice could be heard outside the window. Lin Daiyu was about to stand up, but then she remembered that the two of them could no longer see each other before their marriage, so she bowed and replied, "I know, Brother Yue, please go and attend to your business."

Hearing Lin Daiyu's sweet response, Yue Ling felt his muscles go weak and his bones soften.

It's not the time to revel in this now; a large crowd has surely gathered outside, waiting for me to deal with them.

Normally, there should be an elder in the family to handle the wedding arrangements, but Yue Ling has no relatives or friends, and Lin Daiyu only has a father who is prone to causing trouble.

Yue Ling inquired about Lin Ruhai's whereabouts from all directions, but received news from Cangzhou Prefecture that Lin Ruhai did not stop at the post station, but took a detour, and it was unknown whether he would be able to make it in time for the wedding.

He has already sent people to search along the official road, but as long as Lin Ruhai can arrive in time to handle the wedding, that would be good enough.

Looking at the clock in front of the courtyard, there was still half an hour until the ceremony.

"Sir, some important figures have arrived ahead."

After passing through the hanging flower gate, Jia Yun was seen waiting anxiously there.

"Oh? Who's here?"

"There is Grand Secretary Chai, Prince Bei Jing Shui Rong, and Prince Zhong Shun."

Yue Ling said in surprise, "They've all come. If the three of them were to sit at one table, it probably wouldn't be very harmonious."

Jia Yun chuckled awkwardly, "It's more than just discordant; even the laughter and chatter of others have become much quieter. This was supposed to be Master's wedding, but it's turned into this..."

Jia Yun sighed repeatedly, but Yue Ling comforted her, saying, "It's alright, everything will be fine once I'm gone. You should take care of the guests outside the courtyard first."

Meanwhile, the three people who had maintained a semblance of peace in front of the hall were now silent and had little to say.

Especially since the three of them held the highest positions, and no one was willing to lower themselves to break the deadlock, they maintained their status.

The chanting outside the door continued.

"A three-foot-tall, whole red coral tree!"

"Ten luminous pearls from the South China Sea!"

"A canopy bed inlaid with precious stones and crafted with intricate details, made of golden nanmu wood!"

This gift-giving gesture gave Shui Rong something to talk about, and he couldn't help but say, "Heh, what a grand gesture! To send a whole red coral tree, I've never even seen a whole one before."

Chai Pu nodded in agreement, "The one bushel of pearls I presented was from the East Sea, slightly smaller than those from the South Sea. It seems it has been outshone by quite a bit."

Prince Zhongshun, confident in his high status, retorted with dissatisfaction, "The thousand-craft canopy beds in my residence are all made of sandalwood. I've only ever seen a complete set of golden nanmu wood in the Imperial Palace. Could it be that His Majesty himself came here?"

The three of them looked in the direction of the gate at the same time, and exclamations of surprise rose and fell in front of the hall.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to His Highness the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince..."

The three of them twitched their lips, stood up together, and greeted each other with clasped hands.

The eldest prince, Liu An, raised his hand in a gesture of support and said, “There is no need for formalities, everyone. Today is the wedding of the Duke of Dingguo, so there is no need to be reserved. I am here to offer my congratulations as a student, as are my two younger brothers.”

Yue Ling entered the room at the opportune moment, greeted the three princes, and led them to their seats.

Chai Pu, Shui Rong, and Prince Zhongshun each gave up their seats and stood side by side beside the seats, welcoming Yue Ling and his entourage as they approached.

"I never expected that the three princes would come in person. We originally intended to hold a banquet in the manor, but there were too many people, so we had to switch to round tables and have them put together for the meal. I hope the three princes will understand."

The Second Prince Liu Yi cupped his hands and said, "Sir, you flatter me. Today, I will put you first in everything."

Yue Ling smiled and nodded, and also greeted Chai Pu and the other two, saying, "It is with great pleasure that the three princes have come in person. Please take good care of us."

Prince Zhongshun readily agreed, "It is my duty."

The atmosphere at the table indeed improved, and Jia Yun, who was standing behind the threshold, breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

These important figures, who could only gather at court assemblies, were far too much for a lowly steward to handle, and he almost caused a blunder.

"Steward Yun, something terrible has happened! Someone from the Xia family has come to deliver a message saying that Imperial Censor Lin has caused a scene at the Xia family's wedding banquet and is currently fighting with them. No one can stop him."

Jia Yun was taken aback, then sneered, "Don't be ridiculous. Let's not even talk about whether Lord Lin has arrived in the capital or not. You're saying that Lord Lin has arrived in the capital, but instead of attending the master and his daughter's wedding, he's going to interfere with the Xia family and prevent Xia Jingui from marrying Jia Baoyu? Do you think Lord Lin has been tricked or lost his mind? You can't even make up a story."

(End of this chapter)