The Red Mansion

Chapter 157 One thought breaks the situation
Jiang Nian talked with Jia Yucun for a quarter of an hour. During the conversation, Jia Yucun kept trying to get close to him, but never mentioned Wang Ziteng or the Wang family.

Jia Yucun also knew little about the Luo Sect, but he resolved to do his utmost to gather important intelligence.

After a conversation, Jiang Nian sighed inwardly that this man was not only handsome and dashing, but also eloquent and good at flattery. No wonder he was able to win the favor of Lin Ruhai, Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng and become Wang Ziteng's disciple.

Jia Yucun has already taken his leave.

Jiang Nian sat alone in the study, her brows furrowed, lost in thought. The teacup in her hand had gone cold, but she seemed oblivious to it.

Outside, the autumn rain pattered, and the dripping water from the eaves sounded like pearls falling onto a jade plate, adding a touch of chill to the air.

Since arriving in Jiangning yesterday, he has met with several officials stationed in Jiangning, including Chen Bina, the Governor-General of Liangjiang; Tang Jina, the Military Governor of Jiangning; Zhen Yingjia, the Textile Commissioner of Jiangning; and Jia Yucun, the Prefect of Jiangning. However, all the officials spoke in generalities, and none of them could provide any important information about the Luo Sect.

Especially Zhen Yingjia, as the Jiangning Textile Commissioner, the emperor's eyes and ears, in charge of intelligence in Jiangnan, yet he knew very little about the Luo Sect entrenched in Jiangnan. Was this not dereliction of duty?

The crackdown on the Luo sect has reached a stalemate from the very beginning!

Jiang Nian found the situation increasingly troublesome. He rose and walked to the door, standing with his hands behind his back. He saw that the courtyard was puddled with water, and raindrops pattered down, creating countless tiny ripples that vanished in an instant. Just like his investigation into the Luo Cult, the clues seemed numerous, but in reality, they were all like bubbles, elusive and hard to grasp.

The rain intensified, and the wind rustled the fallen leaves.

How can we break this deadlock?

Jiang Nian muttered to herself, unconsciously clenching her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

Suddenly, a thought arose!

Jiang Nian thought to himself, "The official path is difficult to navigate, why not try my luck in the martial world?"

Thinking this way, it was like seeing the sun after the clouds had parted, and I immediately felt refreshed.

He Yun was summoned immediately.

He Yun hurriedly stepped inside and stood at attention with his hands at his sides.

Jiang Nian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, like lightning, and she said in a deep voice, "I have something to tell you."

He Yun bowed and said, "Please give your orders, sir."

Jiang Nian asked, "Do you still remember Wang Dian from the brokerage firm?"

He Yun was taken aback upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "Why did you suddenly bring up these people from the martial arts world? Are you also looking to buy servants from Wang Dian?" But he replied respectfully, "Of course I remember."

Jiang Nian said, "I need you to find Wang Dian immediately and inquire about the Luo Cult and Tan Fengchi. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! The Luo Cult has been able to entrenched itself in Jiangnan for many years, so it must have a strong foundation. The officials in Jiangning are either genuinely unaware or turning a blind eye. As for Tan Fengchi, he is a powerful figure in the Jiangning underworld. Wang Dian is active in the Jianghu, frequents the streets, and has excellent connections; he might be able to provide crucial intelligence."

Upon hearing this, He Yun's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Your Excellency's insight is brilliant! I will go and do it right away."

Jiang Nian gave a few more detailed instructions, which He Yun agreed to one by one. He turned around and strode away, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and disappeared outside the door in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Nian sat down at her desk, took out a sheet of plain paper, dipped her brush in thick ink, and wrote the two characters "Wang Dian". The brushstrokes were sharp and powerful, penetrating the paper. She then drew an ink circle next to it, and finally made a heavy dot, breaking the brush tip. The ink splattered on the paper, just like a plum blossom in ink.

……

……

He Yun rode in a carriage, passed through the city gate, and arrived at a residence on the shore of Xuanwu Lake.

More than a year later, he came here again to find Wang Dian.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and He Yun stepped out, holding up a black cloth umbrella. He was dressed in the official robes of a fifth-rank Imperial Guard, which, combined with his robust and imposing physique, made him appear truly awe-inspiring.

The two servants guarding the gate were chatting by the door. When they saw He Yun, they were first taken aback, and then hurriedly ran to greet him.

"Has Master He returned to Jiangning?" a servant in gray asked, bowing.

Another round-faced servant bowed deeply and said, "This humble servant greets Master He!"

He Yun nodded slightly: "Is your master at home?"

The gray-clad servant hurriedly said, "Our master is at home. Master He's arrival is just in time."

The round-faced servant hurriedly said, "Please wait inside, Master He. I will go and report to him right away."

He Yun strolled in and saw that the main courtyard was lush with flowers and trees and winding paths. Although it was already autumn, it still had a beautiful scenery. He thought to himself, "There is a difference between the courtyards in Jiangnan and the courtyards in the capital in the north."

Before long, Wang Dian approached. Compared to last year, this brokerage owner had hardly changed—still over fifty, thin, wearing round-framed glasses, sporting a mustache, a six-sided hat, a long robe, and cloth shoes with thick soles. At first glance, he looked like a schoolteacher.

"Brother He, you are truly a rare guest today!" Wang Dian bowed and smiled. "When did you return to Jiangning?"

Wang Dian frequently corresponded with Wang Maozhen, the eldest son of the emperor in the capital, and was aware of Jiang Nian's transformation over the past year. Wang Maozhen had even hinted in his letters that Jiang Nian might be the illegitimate son of the Thirteenth Prince. Therefore, Wang Dian was currently showing He Yun exceptional respect.

He Yun returned the greeting: "I just arrived yesterday." After a slight pause, he said, "Let's go to your study; I have important matters to discuss."

A glint flashed in Wang Dian's eyes, and he quickly stepped aside to lead the way: "Please! Please!"

As He Yun walked through the corridor, the sounds of birdsong filled the air. Looking up, he saw a dozen or so birdcages hanging beneath the eaves, filled with various parrots, thrushes, and other birds, their plumage vibrant and their calls melodious. He remembered that when he came last year, there were fewer than ten birds here; now there were more than ten. Wang Dian's love of keeping birds remained unchanged.

Upon entering the study, a gilded bird stand hangs by the window, upon which sits a red-beaked green parrot with lively eyes and graceful posture.

The red-billed green parrot tilted its head and sized up the visitor, its expression somewhat resembling that of a human.

Wang Dian invited He Yun to take a seat and called a maid in a green vest to pour tea. The maid was skilled; she first scalded the teacup before pouring in the amber-colored tea, which immediately filled the air with a delicate fragrance.

"This is newly acquired Wuyi rock tea. Brother He, please try it and see if it suits your taste," Wang Dian said with a smile. He waved for the maid to leave and then added with a smile, "My son Maozhen often mentions Master Nian in his letters, saying that he is a young talent who is deeply favored by the Emperor. He was even sent to Shandong as an imperial envoy to reorganize the salt administration. He is not only a bodyguard of the Emperor but also granted a noble title. It is truly an honor for our family that my son can befriend Master Nian and Brother He."

Hearing these compliments, He Yun remained silent. He picked up his teacup, blew on it, and took a small sip. He found the tea to be mellow and had an endless aftertaste, and exclaimed, "Excellent tea!"

Wang Dian stroked his two tufts of mustache, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "I wonder what brings you here today, Brother He?" He Yun put down his teacup and said solemnly, "This time I am accompanying my master on an imperial mission to the south of the Yangtze River."

"Grandpa Nian has returned to Jiangning too?" Wang Dian's eyes lit up.

“That’s right.” He Yun nodded slightly. “My master is here as an imperial envoy.”

Wang Dian's eyes lit up even more: "Master Nian just went to Shandong as an imperial envoy to reorganize the salt administration, and now he has been ordered to go to Jiangnan as an imperial envoy again? He is truly favored by the emperor and has a bright future!" After a slight hesitation, he tentatively asked, "I wonder what imperial mission Master Nian is here in Jiangning for? If it is inconvenient to tell me, please consider me presumptuous, Brother He."

He Yun lowered his voice: "It's related to the Luo Cult. My master ordered me to come find you today."

Wang Dian was shrewd enough to understand immediately, and leaned forward: "Does Lord Jiang have something to do?" He noticed that He Yun had changed his address to Jiang Nian to "my master," so he followed suit and addressed him as "Lord Jiang."

“Exactly.” He Yun’s eyes shone brightly. “My master hopes you can provide crucial intelligence on the Luo Cult, especially the whereabouts of Tan Fengchi, the Luo Cult leaders, and the location of the Luo Cult’s strongholds.” He paused and then added, “My master said that he and your son are already friends. If you can provide crucial intelligence and make a contribution, my master is willing to recommend you before the Emperor to help your son be promoted to Commander, and in the future, he can even support him to become a Vice Commander.”

These words were like a hot coal thrown into Wang Dian's heart.

Wang Dian's eldest son, Wang Maozhen, was skilled in both literature and martial arts. He had previously passed the imperial examination as a third-class military officer and was assigned to the Tongzhou Camp in the capital as a sixth-rank battalion commander. Later, he spent a considerable amount of money to be promoted to the fifth-rank garrison commander of the Tongzhou Camp. It would be very difficult to be promoted to the fourth-rank commander, and it would also be difficult to do so with money. As for being promoted to the third-rank adjutant, it was unknown how many years he would have to endure, and it depended on a stroke of luck.

Although Wang Dian immediately realized that if he provided important information about the Luo Cult, they might retaliate against him once they found out, he knew the value of wealth and power and that risk was a virtue. For his beloved eldest son and for the future of the Wang family as a family of officials, what was a risk?
However, Wang Dian did not possess any important information about the Luo Sect.

Wang Dian's eyes behind his glasses flickered uncertainly. After a long while, he said, "To be honest, in recent years, my son Mao'an has been managing most of the business. I will call him back to inquire. If he finds anything, I will personally go to the Imperial Envoy's headquarters to report to Lord Jiang. If he finds nothing, I hope Lord Jiang and Brother He will not blame me."

He Yun nodded: "That's very good."

After a few more words, He Yun got up to take his leave.

Wang Dian escorted He Yun to the gate, watching him board the carriage in the autumn rain.

Wang Dian immediately ordered someone to summon Wang Mao'an to return quickly, while he himself returned to his study, sat alone by the window, and stared blankly at the dripping water from the eaves.

The red-billed green parrot perched on the gilded bird perch by the window hopped around and suddenly cried out, "Promotion! Promotion!"

Wang Dian smiled wryly, picked up a nut and fed it: "You hairy beast, you seem to have become a spirit."

Previously, Wang Dian'ai taught the parrot to say "get rich," and as a result, his wealth increased. In the past two years, however, he had been eager for his eldest son to be promoted, so he specifically taught the red-beaked green parrot in front of him to say "promotion."

……

……

Wang Mao'an was checking accounts at the brokerage firm when a servant came running up, panting, saying that his master urgently summoned him. Wang Mao'an dared not delay, quickly boarded his carriage, and hurried home.

Wang Mao'an entered the house, passed through two courtyards, and went straight to Wang Dian's study. He saw his father sitting upright in a grand chair, his face solemn.

Wang Mao'an stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Father, you summoned me in such a hurry. What are your instructions?"

Wang Dian looked Wang Mao'an up and down. He saw that this third son wore a crown inlaid with jewels, a white jade ring around his waist, and a lake-blue brocade robe embroidered with intertwined branches. Although he had a broad face and a square mouth and was not handsome, he still exuded an air of wealth and nobility.

Wang Mao'an was Wang Dian's third son, one of his three surviving sons, and a brother of Wang Maozhen. He was neither good at literature nor martial arts, but fortunately possessed considerable business acumen. In recent years, he had managed the brokerage firm in place of his father, and the business had become increasingly prosperous. Like a young phoenix whose cry surpasses its elder, the younger generation surpasses the older.

Wang Dian recounted He Yun's words to Wang Mao'an in detail.

Upon hearing this, Wang Maoan's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Father, what a coincidence! I actually know some important information about the Luo Cult."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dian's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Immediately, Wang Mao'an explained it to Wang Dian in detail.

Upon hearing this, Wang Dian exclaimed with delight, "Heaven is on my side!" He then stroked his beard and smiled, "You are indeed capable. Without further ado, let's go to the Jiang family now."

Just as the father and son were about to leave, they suddenly heard the red-beaked green parrot flapping its wings and calling out again, "Promotion! Promotion!"

Wang Dian glanced back and thought to himself, "This hairy beast is actually saying auspicious things today. I suppose his words will come true this time."

……

……

The autumn rains had just stopped.

Wang Dian and Wang Mao'an arrived at the Jiang residence in the inner city in a carriage. After He Yun led the father and son inside, they saw several officers and soldiers from the Imperial Guard, all armed and imposing, and more than one guard in full regalia. The father and son couldn't help but marvel: "Truly worthy of the Imperial Envoy!"
Upon entering the study, Wang Dian and Wang Mao'an saw Jiang Nian seated at the head of the table, dressed in the uniform of a second-class imperial guard. Despite his young age, he possessed an imposing and dignified air, appearing even more composed than before. The father and son both sighed inwardly: in just over a year, this Nian-ge'er had undergone such a dramatic transformation. How could he be so different if he weren't of royal blood? He was most likely the illegitimate son of the Thirteenth Prince!

After Wang Dian and Wang Mao'an exchanged greetings, Jiang Nian asked Wang Dian to sit down, and then went straight to the point: "I heard that you two have intelligence about the Luo Sect?"

"Lord Jiang, please forgive me." Wang Dian stroked his mustache and lowered his voice. "The Luo Cult has been entrenched in Jiangnan for many years. They have a large number of people and great power, and they act without regard for the law. Today, my father and I have dared to present this intelligence. We only ask that you and Brother He keep it a secret, otherwise my father and I will suffer retaliation."

Jiang Nian understood and said seriously, "Don't worry, apart from the four of us, only His Majesty will know about this matter. Once I ban the Luo Sect, no more demons and bandits will be able to cause trouble for your family."

Wang Dian felt somewhat relieved and gave Wang Mao'an a wink.

Wang Mao'an understood and whispered, "Your Excellency, my family's brokerage firm often does business with Qian Jingxiu, the owner of the scripture printing shop at Jubao Gate. This man lives an extremely extravagant life, with a large number of beautiful concubines and maids at home. I became suspicious and secretly investigated, only to discover that while his shop openly prints Buddhist and Taoist scriptures such as the Diamond Sutra and the Jade Emperor Sutra, he is secretly printing the Luo Sect's 'Five Books in Six Volumes.' What's even more shocking is that everyone in that shop, from the manager to the craftsmen, is a follower of the Luo Sect!"

Jiang Nian's eyes lit up. After asking a few more questions, she said to Wang Dian, "This intelligence is excellent. If you make a contribution, I will keep my promise and recommend you to the Emperor to help your son be promoted to the rank of Commander. In the future, I will even support him to become a Deputy Commander."

Wang Dian hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

Jiang Nian said to He Yun, "Gather all the guards and personal soldiers, and come with me immediately... to capture the demon bandits!"

Seeing this, Wang Dian and his son knew that something big was about to happen, so they quickly took their leave.

Jiang Nian left the study and saw that the rain had stopped and the sun had shone through, gilding the dark clouds. The puddles in the courtyard reflected the light, as if they were covered with a layer of broken gold.

A single thought arises, and the sky clears!

(End of this chapter)