The Red Mansion

Chapter 177 Jiang Nian Returns to the Capital and Receives a Reward
November 25th, afternoon, Shen time.

Under Jiang Nian's arrangement, He Yun led Xing Xiuyan, Xie Jixing, Jing Qing's mother Du Shi and a group of people, carrying several boxes of Jiangning local products, back to the Jiang family's new residence in the eastern suburbs of Shenjing.

Yuan Chun was reclining on the L-shaped daybed in her bedroom, holding a copy of "Li Yishan's Poetry Collection" in her hands. She was reading the line "It's hard to meet, and it's hard to part" when Meng Shi suddenly lifted the curtain and came in with a smile on her face: "Grandma, my husband is back!"

Yuan Chun snapped the book shut, a look of joy flashing in her eyes: "Master, you're back?"

Madam Meng hurriedly replied, "Master is still at Luhe Post Station in Tongzhou. He will return home after meeting the Emperor tomorrow."

This is the rule: when an imperial envoy returns to the capital, he must first meet with the emperor to report back.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chun's eyes dimmed, but she still got up, straightened her golden coat, and went to the east side room.

The inner courtyard was now bustling with activity.

He Yun led Xing Xiuyan, Xie Jixing, Jing Qing's mother, Madam Du, and their entourage through the hanging flower gate.

Jing Qing was standing by the window of the east wing when she suddenly saw a familiar figure flash by in the courtyard. She was startled and then hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran out the door: "Mom!"

Her cry was so poignant that everyone turned to look at her.

In the crowd, Mrs. Du turned around and saw that it was her daughter, so she quickly stepped forward.

The mother and daughter immediately embraced and wept bitterly, tears streaming down their faces.

Xue Baochai, who was doing needlework in the west wing, came out upon hearing the sound. Seeing Xie Jixing standing in the courtyard, she simply smiled and nodded at him, but her gaze was drawn to Xing Xiuyan—who was this girl? She was beautiful with delicate features, and although her clothes were simple, they were elegant and refined.

Just as they were wondering, He Yun led everyone to the east wing.

"Greetings to Grandma."

He Yun knelt on one knee and bowed to Yuan Chun, then briefly explained Jiang Nian's trip to Jiangnan.

Yuan Chun nodded repeatedly as she listened. When Xing Xiuyan was introduced, she took a second look at her and said, "What a neat and tidy child." She then said gently to Madam Du, "It is a joyous occasion for you and your daughter to be reunited."

With Yuan Chun's consent, Xue Baochai then summoned Xie Jixing into the west wing.

Xie Jixing handed Xue Baochai a letter written by Aunt Xue herself.

Xue Baochai took the letter and quickly opened it to read it carefully.

The letter mentioned that Jiang Nianbao protected Aunt Xue and helped the Xue family regain their status as imperial merchants.

Upon seeing this, Xue Baochai's lips curled into a slight smile.

Then we see that, at Jiang Nian's request, the two branches of the Xue family's businesses were merged, with Xue Baochai holding a 20% stake and taking control of the Xue family's businesses. At first, I was taken aback, then delighted; she was indeed an ambitious woman.

However, it was then revealed that Xue Baoqin had been betrothed to Jiang Nian as a concubine...

Xue Baochai was dumbfounded.

Well, my cousin is also being offered a concubine by the old man!

……

……

The following day, November 26th.

Chenshi.

The first frost on the official road in the eastern suburbs was melting as Jiang Nian's entourage came windingly from Luhe Post Station.

The wheels rolled over the damp loess, making a dull sound.

He Yun suddenly rode up from the side of the road and whispered through Jiang Nian's carriage window, "Master, Grandma's carriage is at the small intersection ahead."

Jiang Nian hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain and soon saw a jade-canopied, pearl-embroidered carriage parked under an old tree at the intersection of the official road, with a corner of the curtain slightly lifted.

"parking."

Jiang Nian gave a soft shout, and her personal guards immediately reined in their horses.

Jiang Nian got off the carriage and walked towards the emerald-canopied, pearl-embroidered, eight-treasure carriage. Her boots left clear imprints on the frost-covered ground.

The frost flowers on the withered grass by the roadside glistened in the sunlight, just like the glistening tears in the eyes of the people inside the car.

Yuan Chun lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and watched her husband approach. His figure was as tall and straight as a pine tree, seemingly even more dignified than when he left the capital. She longed to lift the curtain completely and get out of the carriage to see him, but considering the many people around, it was inconvenient.

Jiang Nian stopped a zhang away from the emerald-canopied, pearl-embroidered, eight-treasure carriage, cupped her hands in greeting to the curtain, and smiled.

The morning light filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on his face.

The couple gazed at each other across the distance. Yuan Chun's eyes were full of tenderness as she looked at Jiang Nian, who was a few feet away outside the carriage, through a corner of the curtain. It was as if she wanted to pour all her longing from the past few days into that one look. Her fingers rubbed the curtain, as if she wanted to touch her husband who was so close yet so far away.

Finally, Jiang Nian took three steps back, turned around and left.

Yuan Chun watched his retreating figure until the guard's official uniform disappeared into the carriage before she lowered the curtain.

In the dim light inside the carriage, she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at the corner of her eye. The twin lotus blossoms embroidered on that handkerchief were embroidered by Jiang Nian herself before she left the capital.

The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels echoed again on the official road.

Yuan Chun's emerald-canopied, pearl-embroidered, eight-treasure carriage remained motionless until Jiang Nian's entourage became a line of black dots in the distance.

Baoqin said softly, "Grandma, let's go back."

Yuan Chun then seemed to wake from a dream: "Let's go back."

……

……

The inner court of the imperial palace.

In a corner of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a newly arrived eunuch was hunching over, whispering in the ear of an older eunuch. The young eunuch was handsome with delicate features and a pair of bright, darting eyes.

The young eunuch asked, "What is the meaning of that plaque in the West Warm Pavilion?"

In the front room of the West Warm Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation hangs a plaque inscribed with "Diligent Governance and Kindness to the Virtuous," written by Emperor Taishun himself. This Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness to the Virtuous was where Emperor Taishun summoned his ministers.

"You mean the plaque that reads 'Diligent in Governance and Close to the Wise'?" the head eunuch asked, then lightly tapped the junior eunuch on the forehead. "Fool! That means His Majesty is diligent in governing the country and close to virtuous ministers."

The young eunuch rubbed his forehead and muttered, "But I heard the people in the kitchen say it's 'frequently confiscating property and favoring cruel officials'..."

Before he could finish speaking, the head eunuch's expression changed drastically, and he covered his mouth with his hand: "You little devil who's courting death! Don't try to untie me!"

As they were talking, they suddenly felt a chill down their spines.

The two turned around and saw that Emperor Taishun was already standing a few feet away, his imperial robes so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

The two eunuchs were struck dumb, and fell to their knees with a thud, their foreheads touching the cold ground.

"Frequently confiscating property, favoring cruel officials?" Emperor Taishun's voice was even colder than the ground.

Exhausted from his duties, he went for a stroll outside the warm pavilion to relax, only to overhear a young eunuch speaking ill of him in private. The eunuch trembled violently, repeatedly kowtowing, "This servant deserves to die! This servant is talking nonsense..."

The chief eunuch also turned ashen-faced.

Emperor Taishun narrowed his eyes. Though he was harsh and cruel, he wouldn't kill the young eunuch before him for such a matter, especially since he was in a good mood today because Jiang Nian had returned to the capital. Even so, this kind of thing still needed to be punished; otherwise, how could he discipline so many eunuchs?
Immediately, Emperor Taishun ordered the chief eunuch to slap the junior eunuch twenty times, then ordered the chief eunuch to slap himself ten times, and transferred the junior eunuch away from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The two eunuchs even kowtowed repeatedly to express their gratitude.

Just then, Emperor Taishun suddenly saw a trusted eunuch rushing over, reporting that Jiang Nian and others had submitted a petition requesting an audience.

The gloom between Emperor Taishun's brows instantly dissipated: "Summon them immediately!"

……

……

Jiang Nian, accompanied by He Yun, Ren Pijiang, Qi Jianyu, Dai Shijiao, and Zou Jianyuan, entered the Yangxin Hall and moved from the main hall to the Qinzheng Qinxian Hall in the west warm pavilion. The hall had windows on the south side and a throne on the north side. Because Emperor Taishun often summoned his ministers in this hall, a wooden wall was built around the south window for security reasons.

Jiang Nian led everyone in a grand salute, and then reported in detail the matter of the investigation and banning of the Luo sect, presenting the account books and files as she spoke.

Emperor Taishun carefully reviewed the account books and case files for a full quarter of an hour before nodding and saying, "You have once again lived up to my expectations on this trip."

Jiang Nian glanced over and saw that Emperor Taishun's lips were slightly raised, and the smile softened his cold and stern face.

Next came the bestowal of rewards.

At the beginning of the bestowal of honors, Emperor Taishun first named Ren Pijiang. This burly man stepped forward and knelt down. Upon hearing the imperial decree to "record a merit," he slammed his forehead heavily against the gold brick with a dull thud.

Emperor Taishun said to Qi Jianyu: "You failed to capture Shen Chuankui of the Naluo Sect during your trip to Yangzhou. Although the Shen family is powerful and the situation is complicated in Yangzhou, I cannot give you credit for this, but I will not give you any demerit either."

Qi Jianyu also knelt down to express his gratitude. He felt no resentment and was content that no one would hold him accountable or punish him.

Emperor Taishun then promoted Dai Shijiao to the rank of Second-Class Imperial Guard.

Dai Shijiao thanked the emperor and glanced at Qi Jianyu as he stood up; their eyes met briefly before looking away. Years of colleagues, yet today they were two ranks apart. If Qi Jianyu had also been credited with this, he too could have been promoted to second-class imperial guard; what a pity.

Emperor Taishun recorded another merit for Zou Jianyuan, and if he made another merit, he could be promoted to second-class imperial guard.

Then came He Yun. Emperor Taishun gazed at this former subordinate and suddenly chuckled: "He Yun has been transferred from the fifth-rank Imperial Guard to the third-rank Imperial Bodyguard and is exempt from duty."

These few words sent a chill down He Yun's spine. As he prostrated himself in gratitude, his fist clenched tightly in his sleeve.

The title of Imperial Guard Commander was merely a nominal one. He, a former subordinate who had served Emperor Taishun for many years, was finally granted the actual rank of Fifth-Rank Third-Class Imperial Guard today!
Now that He Yun has been officially appointed as a third-class imperial bodyguard, he can no longer serve as Jiang Nian's steward.

Emperor Taishun deliberately exempted He Yun from his duties, actually allowing He Yun to continue following Jiang Nian, so that even if he was no longer the steward, he could still serve Jiang Nian.

Emperor Taishun dismissed He Yun, Ren Pijiang, Qi Jianyu, Dai Shijiao, and Zou Jianyuan, but kept Jiang Nian.

After everyone left, the West Warm Pavilion and the Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness were extremely quiet.

Emperor Taishun lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, the "tap-tap" sound echoing in the hall.

Jiang Nian stood with her hands at her sides.

"What reward do you desire?" Emperor Taishun suddenly asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Jiang Nian raised her eyes and met Emperor Taishun's probing gaze. She decisively cupped her hands and said, "Before I left the capital this time, His Majesty had already promoted me to the rank of Second-Class Imperial Guard, which is an exceptional honor. However, I am only sixteen years old and it is not appropriate for me to be promoted again. As for the wealth, the Lai family has already been generously rewarded for what they confiscated, so there should be no further reward."

He had planned this response beforehand.

Emperor Taishun nodded slightly upon hearing this. He was deliberately testing Jiang Nian, and Jiang Nian's answer satisfied him.

Emperor Taishun said, "It would be unreasonable for me to give you nothing, after all, you have made great contributions this time. Tell me, what reward do you wish to receive?"

Jiang Nian appeared to be deep in thought, but in reality, he had already prepared his answer. He deliberately waited a while before hesitating slightly before saying, "Your subject... dares to request that the Xue family be granted the title of Imperial Merchant."

Before he could finish speaking, a glint flashed in Emperor Taishun's eyes, and he leaned forward: "Oh? Last year, the Xue family colluded with Prince Teng to bully you, so I stripped them of their imperial merchant status. Why are you asking me to grant the Xue family the imperial merchant status today?"

Jiang Nian lowered his head at the opportune moment: "Because the Xue family's daughter is already my concubine, and I... am fond of this woman."

He did it on purpose!

He knew that he had already shown too much talent and might incur the wrath of Emperor Taishun and certain others. Under these circumstances, deliberately displaying his weakness in matters of women was not a bad thing.

As expected, Emperor Taishun was not displeased upon hearing this. Instead, he laughed and said, "Good! I grant your permission!"

Jiang Nian then said, "I have another request."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Hall of Diligent Governance and Kindness to the Worthy fell silent again.

Ha, they're really pushing their luck!
Emperor Taishun narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife, but he quickly regained his composure: "Oh? What other requests do you have?"

Jiang Nian calmly knelt and reported: "When I was searching the home of Shi Xiao, the guerrilla commander of the city garrison in Suzhou, I found a Nine Heavens Jade Pendant Qin..." He then recounted the story of the Nine Heavens Jade Pendant Qin in detail, and then said: "I humbly request Your Majesty to bestow this ancient qin upon me."

Emperor Taishun was not displeased when he heard the request; on the contrary, he appreciated it.

Jiang Nian was being monitored by secret agents arranged by Emperor Taishun during her trip to Jiangnan.

Emperor Taishun thus realized that although Jiang Nian's confiscated property was worth over three million taels, Jiang Nian had not embezzled any money as always.

The fact that Jiang Nian is now asking the emperor for a zither in person indirectly proves that Jiang Nian is indeed not greedy; otherwise, he could have easily gotten his hands on such a zither.

Emperor Taishun tapped his fingers unconsciously on the table and asked, "What do you need this guqin for?"

Jiang Nian raised his head and said, "I enjoy playing the zither, and my wife also enjoys playing the zither very much."

Well, it's all because of women again!
Emperor Taishun's lips curled slightly. Just now, Jiang Nian asked him to bestow the title of Imperial Merchant upon the Xue family for the sake of a concubine; now, Jiang Nian was asking him for a zither, again for the sake of a wife.

"I, a prince from the common people, am exceptionally talented and conscientious in my duties, but I am quite the romantic in matters of the heart!"

Thinking of this, Emperor Taishun nodded slightly and said softly, "This matter is also approved!"

Jiang Nian kowtowed to express his gratitude, knowing full well that Emperor Taishun was probably secretly laughing at his sentimentality. And that was exactly the effect he wanted!

"What else do you want?" Emperor Taishun stared at Jiang Nian, his tone already carrying a hint of teasing.

Jiang Nian solemnly replied, "Your Majesty's grace is boundless; how could I dare to ask for anything more?"

But then Emperor Taishun abruptly changed the subject and asked, "I heard that you bought dozens of members of the Jing family from Tang Jina in Jiangning this time?"

Jiang Nian was not surprised when he heard this. He had known all along that there must be Emperor Taishun's spies around him.

In the corner of the hall, a gilded incense burner emitted ambergris, and amidst the curling smoke, Jiang Nian's expression remained unchanged: "Your Majesty, I did indeed purchase the servants of the Jing family from Lord Tang at the market price plus twenty percent." His gaze was frank. "Firstly, my family is small and doesn't even own an acre of land. I thought that with more people, we could rely on the estate for a living. Secondly, the daughter of the former Suzhou Prefect, Jing Yunduan, is now my concubine, and her mother is among the dozens of people in the Jing family. I... intend to reunite her and her daughter. Moreover, I've heard her say that the Jing family is strict in managing their household, and their servants are well-behaved."

Although Emperor Taishun had some suspicions about Jiang Nian's answer, he couldn't help but find it amusing to hear her speak so bluntly. Well, in the end, it all comes down to women!

Emperor Taishun said, "You said you don't even own an acre of land, so I will grant you two more estates!"

Jiang Nian hurriedly kowtowed again to express her gratitude.

As Jiang Nian left the warm pavilion, he paused at the threshold, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He knew that his performance of "romantic entanglement" had worked.

It's not really acting; he just seems to be all about "romantic feelings"!
(End of this chapter)