Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 494 The Emperor's Personal Visit
"Butler Yun, that person doesn't seem to be making things up at all; there are even footprints on his jacket."

"Is there such a thing?"

Having just witnessed such a grand scene, Jia Yun couldn't help but hesitate. At first, he thought someone was deliberately trying to cause trouble.

Looking towards the front of the hall, the seats were gradually filling up, and the auspicious time was approaching. Naturally, they couldn't let their master go out to find it himself. It would be embarrassing if he made a wasted trip.

"Very well, there are no more guests coming in now. Let Steward Ni take over, and I'll go out and go with them to see what's going on. I saw Master Lin a few times back in Yangzhou, so I can tell whether it's him or not at a glance."

Accompanied by a group of guards from the Duke of Dingguo's household, Jia Yun hurriedly rushed out.

Xia family,

Lin Ruhai was completely ignited by Jia Baoyu's soft nature, and not only did he lose all sense of propriety, righteousness, and shame, but he also lost all masculine vigor.

Originally, Jia Min had died early, and Lin Ruhai shouldn't have interfered in these internal affairs. However, this outrageous act of marrying into the woman's family really enraged Lin Ruhai.

Once upon a time, Rongguo Gong Jia Daishan was a man of great renown, and his heroic deeds were sung throughout the capital. He was no less famous than Yue Ling is today, but he was not far behind.

Moreover, Lin Ruhai himself was chosen as a son-in-law by Jia Daishan, so the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law was quite close.

With Jia Daishan's secret support, Lin Ruhai made great strides in officialdom and quickly gained the emperor's favor. As a senior official in the Imperial Academy, he was appointed to the important position of Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai, demonstrating his ability to make a difference.

Lin Ruhai felt grateful to Jia Daishan, but also guilty for not taking good care of Jia Min.

Having witnessed such an unfilial son of the Jia family today, who shamelessly committed the disgraceful act of marrying into the Jia family, how could Lin Ruhai possibly remain indifferent?

For a moment, he forgot to look for the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and immediately slapped Jia Baoyu across the face.

The sudden slap left Jia Baoyu no time to react, and his ears rang.

However, Jia Baoyu has a wealth of experience in being beaten. Whether it was being beaten by his own father Jia Zheng in the old mansion or recently by Xia Jingui, he always quickly recovers after being beaten.

Covering her burning cheek, she immediately jumped back and fled around the courtyard.

Seeing that this fellow would not stand still to accept punishment and even dare to run away, Lin Ruhai was even more furious and chased after him relentlessly.

The two chased each other through the corridor, frightening the few guests who all went outside to avoid them.

"Uncle, I know I was wrong, please don't hit me anymore. I had no choice but to marry into the Rongguo Mansion. The Rongguo Mansion has already been raided, what else can I do?"

Lin Ruhai was clearly not persuaded by Jia Baoyu. As he chased after him, he cursed, "You good-for-nothing! Once you leave the Rongguo Mansion, you'll become a beggar on the street, only able to beg for food? All the classics and historical texts you learned in the past have gone to waste."

"Even if you were truly a beggar, I would have some sympathy for you. But to willingly debase yourself, disregarding your ancestors' honor to marry into this family, hoping to enjoy wealth and luxury again—where is your dignity? Do you still have the face to face the ancestors of the Jia family? You, you beast, have utterly disgraced the old Duke Rong!"

As he cursed, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but recall some old stories.

When Jia Minxin passed away, Grandmother Jia wrote to him several times, urging him to send Yu'er to the capital, and praising the extraordinary young men in the household.

The implication, of course, is that they want to strengthen their ties through marriage.

Fortunately, he made the decision to entrust Yu'er to Yue Ling. Compared to that scoundrel Yue Ling, this scoundrel in front of him was nothing but a mud pig and a mangy dog.

"Eh?"

Lin Ruhai suddenly stopped in his tracks, his face turning grim. "How did I get entangled with him? This spineless bastard, no matter how much I beat him, he won't grow any more spirit. Oh no, he's going to ruin my important plans!"

With his sleeves removed, Lin Ruhai, his face ashen, slowly walked out of the corridor.

Jia Baoyu hid behind a pillar not far away, covering his bruised cheek, grimacing and panting heavily, while cautiously observing the distance.

Seeing that Lin Ruhai seemed to have calmed down, Xia Jingui, who had been watching from a distance, dared to step forward and greet him. "This humble woman, Xia Jingui, greets Lord Lin. I apologize for making you laugh at me. My husband..."

Lin Ruhai stopped in his tracks, glanced at her sideways, and said angrily, "I never argue with women, but I must remind you today: don't think that others can't see through your schemes. If you get into trouble in the future, you'll suffer the consequences!"

"Don't say you didn't predict what you said!"

Xia Jingui lowered her head and repeatedly agreed, not daring to breathe loudly.

Looking up at the worthless thing in the distance, Lin Ruhai cursed, "The direct line of the second branch of Rongguo Mansion is not broken, at most it is just an unworthy descendant who disgraces the family, so there is no way to expect you to achieve anything."

"Both generations of dukes have fought their way through battlefields, braving mountains of knives and rains of arrows. How could you be such a wretched creature? Look at you, so weak and feeble, without a trace of manliness. What kind of image do you have?"

Tears streamed down Jia Baoyu's face; if he were a woman, he would be described as having tears like pear blossoms in the rain.

The filthy words reached Jia Baoyu's ears, and he felt very aggrieved.

"How could someone as pure and virtuous as Lin Daiyu have such a vulgar father? What's wrong with being gentle and delicate like a woman? Why does she have to be like that crude brute?"

Just then, Xia Jingui strode over, grabbed him from behind the pillar, and angrily said, "Why aren't you apologizing to Lord Lin?"

Even though he was resentful, Jia Baoyu still understood the principle that a good woman doesn't suffer losses in the present moment. He bowed apologetically and said, "Uncle is absolutely right. I appreciate what you say. I will discuss the marriage with my wife again."

But seeing how Xia Jingui was holding him hostage, Lin Ruhai concluded that this was a dog that couldn't change its nature.

With a cold snort, Lin Ruhai strode out the door, silently thinking, "No wonder the Rongguo Mansion has fallen to such a state. The old lady treats such pickled food as a treasure. How could the Rongguo Mansion ever prosper?"

Just as they were about to lead their horses away, a group of people rushed over from afar.

"But Master Lin, the wedding of you and your wife is about to begin. Please come with us."

The first person looked very familiar to Lin Ruhai; he had seen him in Yangzhou Prefecture.

Having just lost his temper, there was no need to restrain himself now. Lin Ruhai continued, still seething with anger, "Lead the way as quickly as possible!"

Watching Lin Ruhai's figure disappear into the distance, the entire Xia family was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

With things turned out this way, even Xia Jingui didn't know whether the marriage should continue.

Looking at Jia Baoyu beside him, who was squatting on the ground wiping away tears, but had a silly smile on his face.

Xia Jingui was furious. "How can you still laugh? Do you think that just because Lord Lin came, you can change your fate? Do you really think Lord Lin cares about whether you live or die?"

Jia Baoyu was so frightened that he trembled. Lin Ruhai could only hit him once, but Xia Jingui could hit him every day.

He got up and hurried to Xia Jingui's side, defending himself, "My lady, you've misunderstood me. I was laughing because Lin Daiyu has such a volatile father, so the wedding banquet at Yue Ling's residence is bound to be disrupted."

"Indeed, a fairy like Lin Daiyu could never marry a vulgar man like Yue Ling!"

"Hahaha, I didn't lose, and Yue Ling didn't win either!" Xia Jingui's lips twitched, feeling more and more that the bastard in front of her had gone mad.

……

Chai Pu, Shui Rong, Prince Zhongshun, and the three princes—these are the most powerful figures in the court, gathered together.

Sitting together, they felt somewhat awkward with each other.

The three princes did not sit together, but rather sat separately from several ministers.

The eldest prince, Liu An, sat down next to Chai Pu and took the opportunity to continue their discussion about their studies, which they had previously discussed.

The Second Prince Liu Yi naturally sat down with Prince Zhongshun to discuss the war and listen to Prince Zhongshun tell stories.

Prince Chungshun also took a great liking to this martial nephew, thinking that his temperament suited his taste, and he would talk about him with great enthusiasm and eloquence.

The interactions between the two men and the princes resembled a power struggle for the throne.

The Third Prince Liu Yun could only sit with the Prince of Beijing, leaving two adjacent seats empty for Lord Taishan Lin, who might arrive, and Yue Ling.

Of the six people at the table, only Prince Bei Jing remained silent, listening to the conversation between the other two, but due to the noise in the room, he could only catch snippets of their conversation, so he stopped paying attention.

He then turned to look at the Third Prince Liu Yun beside him.

Liu Yun had a handsome face and a thin build. He was the least princely of the three princes and was not good with words.

Recently, Emperor Longyou has been citing illness and suspending court sessions more and more frequently. The officials believe that Emperor Longyou must have suffered some kind of ulcer on the battlefield, and that he has been busy with government affairs for many years and has not been able to take care of his health, so he has become ill from overwork. Therefore, they have no choice but to let the princes leave the palace to establish their own residences and build their own teams to assist in the administration of the country.

However, this makes the establishment of an heir apparent to be urgent.

However, whenever the officials discussed the matter of choosing an heir, the third prince, Liu Yun, was never among the options.

Today was also the first time Shui Rong had met Liu Yun in private. He only knew that after Liu Yun left the palace, he refused to see any outsiders and had never left the palace.

Such an aloof style, in another sense, could be interpreted as being meticulous and leaving no room for error.

As someone equally shrewd and calculating, Shui Rong naturally became interested and began to probe for information.

Her gaze softened, and Shui Rong spoke gently, saying, "Your Highness has lost some weight recently. Perhaps it's because you've been busy with many matters since leaving the palace to establish your own residence, and haven't been able to rest properly?"

Liu Yun seemed quite surprised that Shui Rong would come to chat. He put down his teacup, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Everything in the manor is in accordance with established practices, so things are relatively stable. However, I am used to the quiet of the palace and have not yet adapted to the noise outside."

Shui Rong smiled slightly, “Tranquility is rare, and Your Highness’s ability to find peace and quiet is also rare. But to attend the Duke of Dingguo’s wedding today is probably even rarer.”

Liu Yun remained calm, his face showing neither joy nor anger. "The Duke of Dingguo has been my teacher, so it is only right that I come to offer my congratulations."

Changing the subject, Shui Rong asked, "Speaking of which, His Majesty has been unwell lately and has missed many court sessions. Your Highness must be working very hard to serve him medicine."

Liu Yun lowered his eyelids as if in sorrow, and his voice became a few decibels lower, "I inquire about your well-being every day, but I am afraid of disturbing your peaceful rest, so I dare not stay long."

Shui Rong glanced at the eldest prince and the second prince, then turned back and said, "Your Highness is pure and filial, and this tranquil and serene heart is rare. Now that you have established your own residence and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your officials, it is a blessing that Your Highness can remain virtuous."

Liu Yun replied, "Your Highness's words are truly undeserved. I know myself to be dull-witted and lacking in talent and learning, and I am not up to the task of serving the country or the family. I only wish that my father will soon be healthy and that my two elder brothers will be able to display their talents, which would be a blessing for the nation."

Shui Rong frowned slightly and asked, "Now that the border is in dire straits and the Jurchens have hundreds of thousands of troops, does Your Highness have no ideas?"

Liu Yun remained impeccable, saying, "As for the border wars, I know even less. Moreover, with my uncle, Your Highness, and the Duke of Dingguo here, the country is sure to be safe."

Shui Rong's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. "Your Highness is truly insightful."

After the conversation, although no intention was obtained, Shui Rong still gleaned some useful information.

Liu Yun was not as dull-witted as rumored, nor was he inarticulate. On the contrary, he was extremely cautious in his wording and handled matters with tact and composure, which was not something someone his age should say.

A dull person wouldn't have such a calm expression. He wasn't inherently aloof; at least, he couldn't avoid Yue Ling's marriage.

This amused Shuizhong.

Chai Pu and the civil official group bet on the eldest prince Liu An, while the imperial relatives and some former generals of the Prince of Qin's mansion, who wanted to make meritorious contributions again, all bet on the second prince Liu Yi. Only Liu Yun, who had no support, seemed insignificant, but in fact he was not mediocre.

This wedding banquet was definitely worth the trip.

"Your Highness, what did you just give my younger brother? Tell me about it."

Shui Rong looked up and saw that it was the Second Prince Liu Yi who had asked him the question. He smiled and said, "Just chatting about everyday things."

Prince Chungshun suddenly burst into laughter, “See? I told you so! This man is so effeminate, he always beats around the bush when he says anything.”

With a sneer, Prince Zhongshun said disdainfully, "As the head of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, he has never been to the battlefield and knows nothing of its bloodshed. That's how he turned out. What can one learn from him?"

Several vertical lines appeared on Shui Rong's forehead as he coldly mocked, "If it weren't for the Duke of Dingguo arriving in time, you would have been placed in the ancestral hall long ago, instead of bragging here."

"You bastard!"

The first banquet was once again engulfed in bloodshed, and no one dared to offer any advice. After all, in the imperial court, heated arguments could easily escalate into physical fights.

At this critical moment, the main gate opened again. Everyone looked up and was shocked. They stood up and knelt down in a deep bow.

"May Your Majesty enjoy good health and longevity..."

Emperor Longyou, dressed in a black casual robe, walked slowly into the hall with his arm linked with the empress in her gorgeous palace attire, his face beaming with smiles.

Only then did people realize that the courtyard was full of palace servants, with four of them guarding a large red sandalwood box.

He walked straight to the main banquet and sat down in one of the two empty seats. Emperor Longyou smiled and said, "My beloved ministers, rise."

"Today is a joyous occasion for the Duke of Dingguo, so there is no need to be reserved."

Looking around, Emperor Longyou continued, "However, I must say, it's been a long time since I've seen such a complete gathering at court. Don't you agree, Prince Zhongshun?"

Prince Zhongshun smiled awkwardly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am ashamed. The Duke of Dingguo saved my life, so I had no choice but to come."

"Very well, seeing your deep affection and loyalty, I am relieved."

Xia Shouzhong whispered a few words to Emperor Longyou, who smiled gently, then frowned and coughed lightly a few times to ease his expression. He then said, "It seems I am not late. Since it is getting late, let's begin the ceremony to welcome the newlyweds."

(End of this chapter)