The Red Mansion

Chapter 193 Entering the Palace to Meet the Three Saints

Emperor Jingning wanted to reward Jiang Nian, but hesitated over the matter.

He said to Emperor Taishun, "If we promote him to a higher official rank, it will inevitably attract attention; if we reward him with gold and silver, it will be too commonplace, and Yuan Yi has no shortage of such things." He then stroked his beard and smiled, "Let him enter the palace to meet me! He will see both me and his imperial grandmother. Such family happiness would be the best reward for him."

He then said to Emperor Taishun, "However, if I were to summon him directly, it would be too conspicuous."

Emperor Taishun understood and quickly replied, "Then I will summon him to the palace."

Emperor Jingning nodded slightly.

……

……

That afternoon, Jiang Nian was studying the Zizhi Tongjian in her home study.

Suddenly hearing that Ren Pijiang had come to visit again, Jiang Nian hurriedly welcomed him into the main room and learned that Emperor Taishun had summoned him to the palace for an audience the next day at the beginning of the 11:00 AM.

Jiang Nian saw Ren Pijiang off at the gate of the house, and then headed to the neighboring house.

Next door was a two-courtyard house, which Jiang Nianhua had previously purchased at a high price for He Yun, Meng Shi, He Zhong's family to live in, as well as Jiang family servants.

He Yun hurriedly went out to greet her, leading Jiang Nian to the main hall and then to the study.

Seeing a copy of "The Art of War" spread out on the desk, with annotations on a piece of paper next to it, Jiang Nian nodded and smiled at He Yun, saying, "You really put your heart into it."

He Yun cupped his hands and said, "I dare not disobey your instructions, sir. Besides, this kind of knowledge is indeed beneficial to me."

It turns out that Jiang Nian had previously instructed He Yun to study military books so that he could become a military general who could achieve great things in the future.

He Yun personally brewed hot tea and served it to the guests before respectfully asking, "Sir, is there something you wish to instruct us with?"

Jiang Nian took the teacup but did not drink it. Instead, she asked, "Has the inkstone warmer box that I asked you to make been finished?"

After Jiang Nian returned to the capital from Jiangning, he ordered He Yun to find skilled craftsmen to make an improved version of the warm inkstone box.

He Yun hurriedly said, "When I went to check three days ago, it wasn't finished yet. Is it urgent, sir? If so, I'll go and inquire right away; perhaps it's already been made."

Jiang Nian recounted the matter of Emperor Taishun summoning him, and concluded by saying, "Tomorrow when I enter the palace, I wish to present this newly made warm inkstone box to His Majesty for his perusal. You should go to the craftsman's place and, if it is already finished, bring it here; if it is not yet completed, pay them extra to have it made overnight, and be sure to deliver it to me before dawn tomorrow."

After Jiang Nian finished speaking, He Yun suddenly stood up: "Don't worry, sir, I'll go right away!"

Jiang Nian nodded and walked out of the study with He Yun. There they saw Madam Meng holding a red lacquered food box and waiting in the main room, followed by a maid holding a hot towel.

Seeing them come out, Madam Meng smiled at Jiang Nian and said, "Would you like some snacks, sir? I just steamed some Poria cocos cake."

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble. May I take some back to try?"

Meng smiled and said, "Of course."

Immediately, Madam Meng personally carried the red lacquered food box and followed Jiang Nian to the next room, while He Yun rode his horse at full speed to the craftsman's place.

……

……

Jiang Nian returned to her study at home, and less than half an hour later, she saw He Yun come in covered in sweat, with beads of sweat running down his cheeks, indicating that he had rushed there.

Despite being sweaty, He Yun's face was filled with undisguised joy. He held a brocade bundle in both hands and respectfully handed it over: "Sir, I have not failed you! The warm inkstone box you requested is finished."

Jiang Nian took the bundle, feeling its weight. Unwrapping the brocade revealed an exquisite copper-enamel box. The box was made entirely of copper, decorated with enamel painting depicting the Three Friends of Winter: pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms, creating a scene of exceptional elegance.

This inkstone warmer box is divided into two layers. The upper layer has a recessed groove that fits the inkstone perfectly, while the lower layer has a drawer-style charcoal compartment with vents on the side to keep the charcoal fire burning and prevent stuffiness. The bottom of the charcoal compartment is also lined with a layer of mica, which provides insulation and fireproofing without obstructing the heat from the charcoal fire.

Jiang Nian carefully examined the drawer, running her fingers over every seam and testing its opening and closing. Finding it incredibly smooth, she nodded in praise: "The craftsmen's skills are quite good."

He Yun wiped his sweat and laughed, "When those craftsmen heard that it was for the master and that we paid them extra, how could they dare to slack off? They worked overtime for several days in a row to finish it, and even the enamel painting was done by hand by the master craftsman."

A warm inkstone box can prevent ink from freezing in winter.

This item existed as early as the Ming Dynasty, and copper-bodied enamel inkstone warmers were commonly used in the Daqing imperial court.

However, Jiang Nian made two improvements to the copper-bodied enamel inkstone box from Daqing.

Currently, the copper-bodied enamel inkstone warmers in Daqing all have fixed charcoal compartments, which require emptying the charcoal ash, making it quite inconvenient. Jiang Nian, however, changed the lower charcoal compartment to a drawer-style design, making it much cheaper to change the charcoal.

In addition, a mica fireproof layer has been added to the bottom of the charcoal chamber, making it even safer than before.

After He Yun took his leave, Jiang Nian specially summoned Yuan Chun to the study.

As soon as Yuan Chun entered, her gaze was drawn to the object on the table: "This is..."

Jiang Nian smiled and waved: "Come and take a look."

When Yuan Chun approached, Jiang Nian explained the wonderful features of the improved inkstone warmer box. She first demonstrated how the drawer-style charcoal compartment made it easy to take out and replace the charcoal, and then pointed to the mica layer to explain its fire-resistant properties.

Yuan Chun listened intently, her almond-shaped eyes growing even brighter. After Jiang Nian finished speaking, she couldn't help but sincerely praise, "Sir, you have such ingenious ideas! This drawer design is already ingenious, and with the addition of mica for fire resistance..." As she spoke, she gently pulled open the charcoal compartment and pushed it back in, which was indeed incredibly smooth. "Presented to His Majesty tomorrow, it will surely please him."

After saying that, she couldn't help but think to herself, "With such talent, if the master is truly of royal blood, he would not be unworthy of the imperial lineage!"

……

……

The next morning, Jiang Nian got up and looked out the window. She saw that the sky was covered with dark clouds and snowflakes like goose feathers were falling down, covering the courtyard with a white carpet.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Chun exclaimed softly, "What heavy snow!"

Jiang Nian laughed and said, "Even if it's raining knives from the sky, I'll still go to the palace today."

After having breakfast and getting dressed, Jiang Nian boarded the carriage. The wheels crunched on the snow as they headed towards the city.

Snowflakes fluttered along the way, creating a picturesque scene. Upon arriving at the palace, Jiang Nian presented her token. Soon after, Ren Pijiang appeared, covered in snowflakes, which he didn't bother to brush off. He quickly bowed and said, "Lord Jiang, please come with me to Zhaoren Hall."

Jiang Nian asked in surprise, "Aren't we going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

Ren Pijiang lowered his voice: "His Majesty has gone to Zhaoren Hall."

Jiang Nian was startled.

He knew that the name of Zhaoren Hall was taken from the Book of Documents, meaning "to establish government with benevolence." It was the actual sleeping quarters of the retired Emperor Jingning in the palace. Although it was located to the east of Qianqing Palace, it had its own layout. Because Qianqing Palace was too vast, it was cold in winter and hot in summer, so Emperor Jingning often resided in Zhaoren Hall.

Immediately, Jiang Nian followed Ren Pijiang, turning past several palace walls, and suddenly saw a delicate little hall with only three bays. It had a hipped roof with yellow glazed tiles, colorful brackets under the eaves, and snow-like frosting on the white marble railings. A gilded plaque hung above the hall's entrance, bearing the three large characters "Zhaoren Hall," written in a vigorous and powerful style, the calligraphy of Emperor Jingning.

Jiang Nian straightened his clothes and followed Ren Bijiang into the palace. The interior was elegantly furnished: a velvet carpet with a five-blessing and longevity motif covered the floor, a sandalwood screen inlaid with jade stood in the center, and bookshelves on both sides reached the ceiling, filled with ancient thread-bound books. The most eye-catching item was a "Longevity Scroll" hanging on the east wall, densely covered with congratulatory messages from officials.

Jiang Nian didn't have time to take a good look before following Ren Pijiang into the inner room.

Looking up, I was startled. In the small, warm pavilion, the retired Emperor Jingning sat in the center, dressed in a casual ochre-yellow satin robe; beside him sat the Empress Dowager, in a crimson palace dress, with a nine-phoenix pearl hairpin in her hair; below her sat Emperor Taishun, in a dark blue dragon robe, with a jade belt around his waist that shone brightly.

The three saints gathered together, filling the room with brilliance!
What a grand display! My grandfather, grandmother, and father are all here!
Without thinking it over, Jiang Nian hurriedly stepped forward and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.

"Your subject, Jiang Nian, Second-Class Imperial Guard, pays respects to the Retired Emperor and Empress Dowager, and to Your Majesty!"

Jiang Nian prostrated herself in respect, her forehead striking the ground with a resounding thud.

Emperor Jingning stroked his beard and smiled: "Rise."

After Jiang Nian stood up, Emperor Jingning looked her over carefully, a hint of affection in his eyes: "Yesterday I read your poems and they pleased me greatly. I have summoned you here today not only to see you, but also to let you see the Empress Dowager, as a reward."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian was secretly delighted. He had originally thought that Emperor Taishun wanted to see his poems, but it turned out to be the Emperor Emeritus. On the surface, however, he became even more respectful: "Your humble servant's clumsy work has actually caught the eye of the Emperor Emeritus, I am truly humbled."

Emperor Jingning then spoke with Jiang Nian about the poems.

Seeing an opportunity, Jiang Nian suddenly said, "Your Majesty, I have something I originally intended to present to you today. I did not expect to have the honor of meeting the Three Sages today, so I humbly request that you accept it with a smile."

Emperor Jingning asked curiously, "Oh? What is it?"

Jiang Nian immediately asked Ren Pijiang to go outside and fetch the double-layered copper-bodied enamel inkstone box he had brought.

In front of the three sages, Jiang Nian gently pulled open the drawer of the inkstone box to show the structure of the charcoal compartment. She then pointed to the mica stone layer and explained it to them. Finally, she said, "This is a rough workmanship made by the common people. If it were made by the Imperial Workshop, it would be much more exquisite."

Emperor Jingning took it and examined it closely, nodding repeatedly.

Even the Empress Dowager curiously took it and examined it closely.

Emperor Taishun suddenly frowned and said to Jiang Nian in a deep voice, "As a subject, you should prioritize governing the country and benefiting the people. How can you be indulging in these strange and frivolous skills?"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Jiang Nian hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, but out of the corner of her eye she caught a barely perceptible twitch at the corner of Emperor Taishun's mouth.

The Empress Dowager was displeased and placed the inkstone warmer box on the table: "Your Majesty is mistaken. I think this child is thoughtful. If he improves this item, both the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor can use it. Moreover, the people's lives are difficult, and they need such practical items. Improving this item will benefit all scholars in the world. Isn't that better than empty talk about grand principles?"

Emperor Taishun immediately turned his anger to joy, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is right. I only wanted to tell him not to lose sight of the essentials." He then turned his gaze to Jiang Nian, "You may rise!"

In fact, Emperor Taishun deliberately played the role of a strict father in front of his parents, and he himself thought that Jiang Nian's improved inkstone box was very good.

Emperor Jingning glanced at Emperor Taishun with a half-smile, then turned to Jiang Nian and said, "It's admirable that you've thought of everything! This inkstone warmer box is a wonderful improvement. The drawer design makes it very convenient to take out charcoal, and the addition of mica is also excellent."

After a while, Emperor Taishun rose, bowed to Emperor Jingning and the Empress Dowager, and took his leave: "Your subject still has memorials to review, and your ministers are also waiting. I shall take my leave now." He then turned to Jiang Nian, his face stern, and said: "You shall serve the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager well." After saying this, he turned and left, and his dark blue dragon robe disappeared in a flash by the door.

After the Emperor left, the Empress Dowager's expression relaxed considerably. She beckoned Jiang Nian to sit down and inquired about her daily life, asking questions such as, "Are you used to your meals?", "How many servants serve you in the household?", and "Is the charcoal fire warm enough in winter?"

After asking these questions, he specifically asked, "Is Yuan Chun content? Has she suffered any injustice?"

Jiang Nian hurriedly said that Yuan Chun was doing well.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat tense.

Seeing this, Emperor Jingning stroked his beard and smiled, "I also have something to attend to. You two continue your conversation." With that, he got up and left, leaving only the Empress Dowager and Jiang Nian in the warm pavilion.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager looked tired, Jiang Nian said softly, "It is a rare opportunity to see Your Majesty's beautiful face today. If Your Majesty does not mind my humble words, may I tell you two rustic stories to amuse you?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's brows relaxed: "It's kind of you to have such a thought, please speak freely."

Jiang Nianqing cleared her throat and began to tell the story: "There was once a kind-hearted old woman in winter. Seeing the birds in the yard shivering from the cold, she scattered some rice grains every day. Later, the old woman caught a cold and was bedridden, so she didn't even have the strength to fetch water."

He paused here, and seeing that the Empress Dowager was listening intently, he continued, "Who knew that those birds would bring leaves covered in morning dew every day and drip the dew into the bowl by the old woman's bedside. The old woman drank this sweet dew and recovered in just a few days."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager paused with her prayer beads in her hand and sighed, "Excellent! Even this bird knows how to repay kindness."

The short story told by Jiang Nian aligns with the Empress Dowager's Buddhist beliefs and charitable practices. The story is simple and heartwarming, with a happy ending, suggesting that the Empress Dowager's good deeds will be rewarded.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was indeed pleased, Jiang Nian told a second story: "I once had a dream in which I turned into a lost little rabbit in the snow, feeling cold and scared."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but chuckle and said, "This dream is quite interesting. Please continue, I'm listening carefully."

Jiang Nian smiled and continued, "Just when I was in despair, I suddenly saw a faint light flickering in the distance." His voice lowered, as if he was lost in memories, "When I got closer, I realized it was an old tree with a red lantern hanging in front of the tree hole. Inside, Grandma Rabbit was smiling and waving at me. There was dry grass and steaming hot Poria cocos cake in the hole."

At this point, Jiang Nian gazed at the Empress Dowager and said softly, "Fortunately, I had the Rabbit Grandmother in my dream, otherwise this little rabbit lost in the snow would have nowhere to go. And today, I am fortunate to see the Empress Dowager, and this place feels just like that tree hole in my dream."

This short story uses a childhood dream as a metaphor for the warmth and security that the Empress Dowager can bring him, emphasizing the cozy feeling of family reunion, which is easy to touch the Empress Dowager's heart.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the Empress Dowager stared blankly at Jiang Nian, a sudden pang of sorrow gripping her heart. She thought to herself, "This child has been living among the common people, and her mother died young. I wonder how much suffering she has endured. This isn't some 'rabbit grandmother,' she's clearly referring to me!"

The warm room was utterly silent. Outside the window, the snow fell silently, with only the occasional soft popping of silver charcoal in the incense burner.

The Empress Dowager finally calmed herself down, took off a string of sandalwood prayer beads from her wrist, and personally put them on Jiang Nian's hand: "These beads have been with me for ten years while I recited Buddhist scriptures. Today I give them to you to bless you with peace."

(End of this chapter)