The Red Mansion

Chapter 126 Ennoblement
On this day, in the Danning Residence of Changchun Garden, Emperor Taishun was sitting on a daybed, leaning against a table and reviewing memorials, when he suddenly heard a eunuch softly report: "Imperial Envoy and Imperial Bodyguard Jiang Nian awaits your reply."

"Xuan."

Jiang Nian led Qi Jianyu, Dai Shijiao, and Meng Xiong in single file and knelt on the ground.

Jiang Nian recounted in detail the investigation of Zhou Sankui, a salt smuggler in Laizhou, and presented the account books and case files.

After reviewing the account books and case files, Emperor Taishun nodded and said, "You have lived up to my expectations on this trip."

An imperial edict was immediately issued: "He shall be granted the title of Yunqiwei, and appointed as a third-class imperial bodyguard, exempt from duty."

Yunqiwei was a title for meritorious officials of different surnames, and it was a fifth-rank title.

Emperor Taishun then said to Qi Jianyu and Dai Shijiao, "Each of you will be credited with one merit. If you perform another merit next time, you will be promoted."

The two men quickly kowtowed to express their gratitude, secretly delighted.

Suddenly, Emperor Taishun's gaze fell on Meng Xiong, and he said to Jiang Nian, "Since Meng Xiong has made meritorious contributions this time, you shall release him from slavery and I shall bestow upon him the rank of sixth-grade Imperial Guard."

Jiang Nian replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Meng Xiong hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude, the golden brick ground vibrating as if shaken. His face flushed red, and his tiger-like eyes filled with tears—from now on, he was no longer a slave but an official!
However, according to the etiquette of Daqing, even though Meng Xiong was nominally freed from the slave status of the Jiang family, he was still regarded as a "former servant of the Jiang family." This mark could not be erased for life. If he did not respect Jiang Nian, he would be violating the etiquette. He was legally freed from slave status, but not in society. Moreover, Meng Xiong would need to rely heavily on Jiang Nian in the future.

As the four men left, Meng Xiong's steps were unsteady, as if in a dream. Qi Jianyu nudged him and laughed, "Congratulations, Brother Meng." Dai Shijiao chimed in, "You should treat us to drinks another day."

Meng Xiong suddenly turned around and bowed to Jiang Nian: "I will never forget your great kindness, sir!"

Jiang Nian accepted his greeting, and she was well entitled to it.

Meng Xiong was bought as a household slave by him just last year, but now Emperor Taishun has personally ordered Meng Xiong to be released from slavery and granted him the title of sixth-rank Imperial Guard. This is truly an incredible opportunity that he has brought to Meng Xiong.

……

……

After reporting back to the Emperor, Jiang Nian rode in a carriage from the western suburbs of the capital to the eastern suburbs. The carriage curtain was half-rolled up, revealing half of his weary face, and the collar of his guard's uniform was still covered with dust from his journey.

Upon arriving at their new residence, the gates were wide open, and Yuan Chun, along with Xue Baochai and a group of maids and servants, were already waiting in the inner courtyard. As soon as Jiang Nian entered the inner courtyard, Xiang Ling's tears immediately rolled down like pearls from a broken string, and even Qing Wen couldn't help but get emotional, twisting her handkerchief in both hands.

Seeing her husband looking haggard and covered in dust, Yuan Chun said with heartache, "Quickly prepare some fragrant soup!"

Xiangling quickly and efficiently helped Jiang Nian wash her hair and then helped her take a bath.

While Jiang Nian was taking a bath, Yuan Chun came in, rolled up her sleeves, and personally wiped Jiang Nian's back, as if wiping away the dust of her journey, and also filling the room with affection.

After bathing and changing, Jiang Nian, dressed in a casual silk robe, sat opposite Yuan Chun in the study. Holding a celadon teacup, he sipped tea and slowly recounted his trip to Laizhou.

When Yuan Chun spoke of the bandit suppression outside Changyi City, her fingertips trembled; when she mentioned the raid on the Dragon King Temple, she gasped in surprise. Jiang Nian only briefly mentioned the investigation of many officials, and then smiled and said, "Just now I went to Changchun Garden to report to the Emperor. His Majesty bestowed upon me the title of Yunqiwei and appointed me as a third-class imperial bodyguard."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun's eyes shone brightly, even brighter than the sunlight outside the window. She was both happy and proud, but simply said, "Congratulations, sir!"

The two gazed at each other tenderly.

After Yuan Chun left the study, Jiang Nian summoned Xue Baochai to the study alone and briefly recounted her trip to Laizhou, emphasizing, "Coincidentally, last spring, the bandit leader who robbed your Xue family on the Zaozhuang section of the Grand Canal, named Li Liu, defected to Zhou Sankui, and I captured him this time..."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's bright eyes lit up, and she said with delight, "Master, you have helped the Xue family avenge their grievances. If my mother and brother knew, they would be overjoyed and would thank you very much."

……

……

Li Zhiyi, Sun Shi, and Li Yanmei, a family of three, moved to the capital with Meng Xiong this time.

Meng Xiong temporarily settled the three of them in an inn on the eastern outskirts of Shenjing.

Inside the inn, Li Zhiyi and his family were packing their belongings when Meng Xiong suddenly strode in, his face flushed and sweat beading on his forehead. He was panting heavily as he exclaimed, "Great news! Today, I went with you to Changchun Garden to meet the Emperor! He bestowed upon me the title of Sixth-Rank Imperial Guard, and you released me from my slave status!"

Li Yanmei's eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth turned up so high she couldn't suppress them.

Li Zhiyi breathed a long sigh of relief.

He was initially reluctant to marry his daughter to Meng Xiong, mainly because Meng Xiong was a servant. He later agreed for three reasons: first, he felt that Meng Xiong was skilled in martial arts and of good character, and that he had been kind to his family; second, his daughter, Li Yanmei, had taken a liking to Meng Xiong; and third, he had Jiang Nian's influence, and Jiang Nian had told him that she would release Meng Xiong from his slave status and help him become a military general.

Now that he learned that Jiang Nian had indeed released Meng Xiong from slavery, and that the current emperor had personally bestowed upon Meng Xiong the title of a sixth-rank Imperial Guard, Li Zhiyi was finally relieved.

Sun was a devout Buddhist, and hurriedly said to Meng Xiong, "Quickly kowtow to the Bodhisattva and thank the Bodhisattva."

Meng Xiong disagreed. He thought he should thank his uncle, not the Buddha.

However, since his future mother-in-law had given the order, he did not disobey. He immediately went to the Guanyin statue and kowtowed. When his palms, which were as big as palm fans, were clasped together, he showed a somewhat clumsy piety.

Madam Sun also knelt down to the side, muttering, "May the Bodhisattva bless my son-in-law with a bright future, and may he become a powerful and illustrious general!"

In a panic, Li Yanmei covered Sun's mouth: "Mother! Who's your son-in-law... we're not even married yet!"

Seeing this, Li Zhiyi couldn't help but smile.

……

……

The following morning, it rained in the capital.

The fine, dense rain enveloped Changchun Garden in a misty haze.

Qingxi Study is hidden among the bamboo forest in the northeast corner of the garden. The jade-green bamboos are washed by the rain and shine, and when viewed from a distance, they look like green clouds floating in the air.

The pine and cypress trees planted by Emperor Jingning many years ago in front of the gate appear even more vigorous in the rain.

Raindrops dripped from the eaves, splashing up silvery flowers on the bluestone slabs.

Emperor Taishun walked along the wet stone path, his boots covered with bits of bamboo leaves. When he entered the house, he saw Emperor Jingning admiring the rain by the window, with memorials piled on the table and wisps of smoke rising from the Xuande incense burner.

After paying his respects to Emperor Jingning, Emperor Taishun, amidst the sound of rain outside the window, recounted in detail the collusion between his ninth brother, Yuan Tang, and Zhou Sankui, a salt smuggler from Laizhou. He said that Yuan Tang was actually Zhou Sankui's patron, and that over the years he had obtained a great deal of wealth from Zhou Sankui, all of which came from smuggled salt...

Emperor Taishun had hoped that Emperor Jingning would imprison Yuan Tang to prevent him from hindering his new policies or even secretly plotting against him with his eighth, tenth, and fourteenth brothers.

However, he was disappointed.

Emperor Jingning sighed, "Ninth Prince is foolish! But now that you have ascended the throne, you should treat your brothers well and be more lenient with them."

Emperor Taishun felt as if a wet cotton ball was stuck in his chest, but he did not show it on his face. He simply lowered his head and said, "Father's teachings are correct."

The rain outside the window intensified, pounding the lotus leaves in the small, green lake, causing them to sway and bend.

A golden carp suddenly leaped out of the water, then splashed back into the lake.

Suddenly, Emperor Jingning started coughing.

Emperor Taishun hurriedly offered the ginseng tea, but the old man waved his hand and said, "Go away."

When Emperor Taishun left Qingxi Study, rainwater was blown onto his back by the wind, and it felt slightly cool.

Looking back, the plaque of "Qingxi Study" gradually blurred in the rain.

The pine needles, knocked down by the rain, carpeted the ground in front of the door, resembling a half-finished game of chess. ...

……

This morning.

The rain was fine and dense.

Meng Xiong, holding an umbrella, led Sun Shi and her daughter Li Yanmei into the Jiang family's new house.

The raindrops pattered on the umbrella, making a sound like a welcoming melody.

Li Yanmei was careful with every step, afraid that the mud would dirty the pair of embroidered shoes that Meng Xiong had given her.

Upon arriving at the east wing, the maid Jin Chuan was waiting behind the curtain.

The room was filled with a warm fragrance. Yuan Chun sat upright on the couch, wearing a traditional Chinese jacket and a single white jade bell hairpin in her hair, yet she still exuded an air of elegance and nobility.

"I kowtow to my grandmother to pay my respects."

Meng Xiong, accompanied by Li Yanmei, bowed deeply to Yuan Chun.

Yuan Chunling, holding a zither, helped Li Yanmei up, while her gaze swept over her from head to toe.

After looking her over, Yuan Chun smiled and said, "What a neat and tidy girl! I said you were pretty, and seeing you today, you are indeed a beautiful and intelligent person."

Li Yanmei was actually a straightforward person, but she was still a little reserved when she met the mistress Yuan Chun for the first time today, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Thank you for your praise, Grandma."

Yuan Chun added, "The master also said that you are skilled in medicine and are a rare female doctor. In the future, if any of the women in our family have a headache or fever, we will definitely need you to come in and treat them."

With Li Yanmei as a female doctor, it would be much more convenient for the women of the Jiang family to see a doctor and get medicine, while Li Zhiyi could treat the men of the Jiang family. This was also one of the reasons why Jiang Nian brought Meng Xiong and Li Yanmei together.

Li Yanmei quickly replied, "It's my honor."

Yuan Chun then inquired about the Li family's plans for making a living.

Meng Xiong said, "We have discussed it and intend to buy a house nearby and open a clinic."

Yuan Chun nodded: "That's how it should be."

He then ordered Baoqin and Jinchuan to bring the gifts that had been prepared in advance.

Because Yuan Chun had heard that Lady Sun was a devout Buddhist, she bestowed upon Lady Sun a statue of Guanyin and two bolts of silk; and upon Li Yanmei, she bestowed upon her a gold hairpin and a silver ingot.

Sun was delighted to be able to recite Buddhist scriptures.

Li Yanmei repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

……

……

At the hour of Shen (3-5 PM) that day, Jia Zheng returned to the Rongguo Mansion after finishing his duties at the Ministry of Works, bringing back news that Jiang Nian had been granted the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank).

As it was dinnertime, many women had gathered in Rongqing Hall, including Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Aunt Zhao, Aunt Zhou, Li Wan, Wang Xifeng, Lin Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun...

Inside the hall, surrounded by jewels and jade, Grandmother Jia was chatting and laughing with everyone.

Suddenly, Lin Zhixiao's wife came in and reported, "Congratulations, Madam! News has come from the Second Master's place that the Jiang family's son-in-law has been awarded the title of Yunqiwei by the Emperor for his meritorious service on a mission outside the capital!"

His words caused a stir among the entire room.

Lin Daiyu paused in her fan, Tan Chun paused in peeling an orange, and even the usually composed Li Wan couldn't help but widen her eyes.

Everyone knew that Jiang Nian had been away from the capital on official business for nearly two months, but no one expected that he would be able to achieve merit and be granted a title.

Grandmother Jia was very curious and ordered Jia Zheng to be summoned in to ask him.

Before long, Jia Zheng entered, bowed to Grandmother Jia, and then explained in detail: "Nian'er was here on the Emperor's secret orders as an Imperial Envoy and Imperial Bodyguard to investigate salt smugglers in Laizhou, Shandong. He not only wiped out the salt smugglers but also investigated and punished many officials in Laizhou and the Shandong Salt Transport Commission. The Emperor has already appointed him as a Yunqiwei and appointed him as an Imperial Bodyguard. Nian'er is truly remarkable and will surely achieve great things in the future."

"At sixteen, she was appointed as an imperial envoy to carry out such an important task, and even won a title for her meritorious service?" Grandmother Jia sighed, twirling her agarwood prayer beads. "The eldest daughter is truly blessed!" She recalled how she had once looked down on the Jiang family for their low social standing, but now she felt that her talents had been wasted and that her brilliance had finally been revealed.

Wang Xifeng's eyes flickered. She used to think that Yuan Chun had been wronged in her marriage, but now she felt a sharp pain in her face.

Li Wan couldn't help but lower her head and start calculating: "We should send Lan'er to visit the Jiang family. If she can get close to Master Jiang, she might receive his favor in the future..."

Suddenly, Grandmother Jia said, "Prepare a generous gift and send it to us tomorrow to offer our congratulations. Also, please invite Yuan-chun back."

Madam Wang readily agreed.

It is:

In the past, people lamented their low social standing when their daughters married; today, they rejoice upon hearing of a noble title.

If marriage weren't preordained by fate, how could a phoenix and a dragon soar together?

In the backyard of Rongqing Hall, a pomegranate tree had budded with bright red flowers, seemingly foreshadowing Jiang Nian's promising future and Yuan Chun's increasingly wealthy status.

……

……

The rain stopped in the afternoon, but started drizzling again in the evening.

Raindrops pattered on the eaves of the west wing of the Jiang family's house, making a soft, rustling sound, as if whispering some secret.

Jiang Nian went to the west wing alone.

Inside the room, Xue Baochai was reading by lamplight, the candlelight making her almond-shaped eyes appear like water. Suddenly, she heard the sound of boots outside the door. Ying'er quickly lifted the curtain and exclaimed with delight, "Miss, it's Master!"

Xue Baochai hurriedly put down her book and stood up, but saw that Jiang Nian's shoulder was still wet with raindrops, so she quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe it. Jiang Nian took the opportunity to grab her wrist, making her so embarrassed that she immediately lowered her eyes.

After the two sat down, Ying'er served fragrant tea. As the tea smoke curled up, Jiang Nian said to Xue Baochai, "When I left the capital two months ago, I said that once I finished my imperial mission and returned to the capital, I would formally take you into my family."

At this point, Xue Baochai's ears turned bright red.

Jiang Nian continued, "I will take care of this matter next month. However, since my wedding was not long ago, it is not convenient to have a grand celebration. But we will still hold two banquets to entertain guests, in a proper and respectful manner, so that you will not feel too wronged."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's usually dignified eyes lowered, her long eyelashes casting trembling shadows in the candlelight, and her heart became as chaotic as the rain outside the window.

Ying'er smirked to herself, but Xue Baochai caught her eye and quickly lowered her head, afraid that her young mistress would roll her eyes at her again. Others might not know, but she knew that her young mistress could be quite intimidating when she was angry.

Jiang Nian suddenly waved to Ying'er. Ying'er was stunned for a moment before she reacted. She glanced at Xue Baochai and saw that Xue Baochai was silent with her head down, so she tactfully retreated to the outer room.

Jiang Nian got up and walked to Xue Baochai, reaching out to embrace the beauty.

The beauty's neck turned red.

Under the eaves of the west wing, a swallow's nest had been built sometime ago. At this moment, a pair of young swallows were nestled close together in the nest, listening to the patter of the rain, occasionally whispering to each other as if they were telling each other sweet nothings that only they could understand.

(End of this chapter)