The Red Mansion

Chapter 194 Snow-Covered Palace, Three Imperial Envoys

Today, the palace is filled with jade and shards of jade scattered everywhere.

The snow was falling heavily, and the six-petaled ice flowers completely covered the golden tiles and red walls in white.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, several eunuchs were busy sweeping snow with snowplows, their breath forming frost on their brows.

Inside the warm pavilion, the gilded incense burner was burning brightly, but Emperor Taishun's face was as cold as frost.

Kneeling below was the Third Prince Yuan Shi, dressed in a lake-blue satin python robe.

"I ask you," Emperor Taishun's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry shards of ice, making it particularly jarring in the warm pavilion, "Where did you go yesterday at Shenshi (3-5 PM)?"

Yuan Shi trembled, his forehead pressed against the velvet blanket, his voice tight: "Your subject... Your subject is studying in his residence..."

"Bang!" Emperor Taishun slammed his hand on the sandalwood table. "You insolent wretch! How dare you deceive the emperor!"

Yuan Shi panicked and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please understand! Your son... Your son went to my ninth uncle's residence yesterday at Shenshi (3-5 PM) to ask for advice on calligraphy..."

"Seek instruction in calligraphy?" Emperor Taishun said coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes, as if he were spitting out the words through clenched teeth, "You want to seek instruction in calligraphy from him? And you're going to his residence specifically to ask for it?"

Yuan Shi said in a trembling voice, "Indeed... I was asking for advice on calligraphy, I didn't say anything else." His voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Emperor Taishun laughed in anger, inwardly sighing, "My third son is not only mediocre, but also unrestrained and careless in his actions, even secretly colluding with the 'Eighth Prince's Party.' My warning about his association with the Eighth Prince is still ringing in my ears, and yesterday he secretly met with the Ninth Prince. Does he really think I'm confused?"

Thinking of this, Emperor Taishun's eyes flashed like lightning as he pierced Yuan Shi, coldly sneering, "I warned you long ago to stay away from those 'Eighth Prince Party' members. But you, you outwardly obeyed but inwardly disobeyed!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a cold wind in the twelfth lunar month, chilling one to the bone.

Yuan Shi hurriedly said, "Your subject would never dare to do it again, please have mercy, Father!"

Emperor Taishun let out another cold laugh: "I hope you really don't dare to do it again! Go back and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors!"

Yuan Shi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly got up and left.

Inside the warm pavilion, Emperor Taishun was lost in thought, sighing to himself, "After failing in the struggle for the throne, Yuan Si, Yuan Tang, Yuan, and the fourteenth prince, they still don't know how to behave themselves... Now they've even set their sights on my son..."

Thinking of this, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

Yuan Shi staggered out of the palace, a gust of wind and snow hitting him, chilling him to the bone. In a daze, he vaguely heard his eighth uncle Yuan Si's heartfelt words from that day: "Your father has long favored Yuan Li as heir apparent. Even Yuan Zhou is more favored than you. He has never taken you, his eldest son, seriously..."

As the snow fell heavily, Yuan Shishen trudged along, his anger growing with each passing moment. He thought to himself, "When has he ever shown even a shred of fatherly affection? But Uncle Ba..." Remembering his Uncle Ba's caring concern, he unconsciously clutched the jade pendant his Uncle Ba had given him tightly. "So kind and respectable!"

……

……

Jiang Nian walked along the snowy path to the outside of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, intending to pay another audience with Emperor Taishun under the pretext of expressing her gratitude.

While waiting for the imperial decree outside the inner right gate, he suddenly heard the thud of boots. Looking up, he saw a young man wearing a lake-blue satin python robe walking out of the gate with a gloomy face. His face was as white as if powdered, but it was pale and bluish. His lips were as red as if painted, but they were pursed into a thin line. His slanted eyes were full of sinister intent.

Jiang Nian immediately recognized that this person was the Third Prince Yuan Shi.

The two looked at each other, and Jiang Nian quickly lowered her head and stepped aside to stand respectfully.

Yuan Shi originally intended to leave directly, but suddenly turned back, his boots creating a swirl in the snow. He walked to Jiang Nian's side and suddenly shouted coldly, "Raise your head!"

Jiang Nian slowly raised her head, but did not look directly at him. Her gaze fell precisely on the other person's jade belt: "This humble servant greets Your Excellency."

The Daqing dynasty established a system of titles for members of the imperial clan, modeled after the Ming dynasty, but with some changes. Below the title of Prince of the Second Rank, there were the titles of Duke of the First Rank and Duke of the Second Rank, followed by Duke of the State and Duke of the State...

Yuan Shi, as the oldest living prince, is already twenty-one years old, married, and has children, yet he only received the title of Duke, not even a Prince of the County. This clearly shows the Emperor's displeasure.

Yuan Shi flared his nostrils slightly as he looked Jiang Nian up and down, his voice sharp as ice: "You're Jiang Nian?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble servant is Jiang Nian." Jiang Nian's tone was respectful, but her back was ramrod straight.

Yuan Shi suddenly took another step closer, lowered his voice, but every word was like a knife: "I heard that you are the offspring of the Emperor who was exiled among the common people?" As he spoke, he patted Jiang Nian's head.

Jiang Nian's expression remained unchanged, but she took a slight half-step back: "Your Excellency, you are wise enough to know that such rumors concern the imperial family's dignity. How can they be believed so easily?"

"Hmph!" Yuan Shi suddenly sneered, his laughter sounding like the howling of a night owl. "What a sharp tongue you have!"

Having said that, he glanced disdainfully at Jiang Nian's guard uniform, flicked his sleeves and left. After taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back, staring intently at Jiang Nian while thinking to himself, "Although those two old bastards, the Emperor Emeritus and the Emperor, both favor Yuan Li, this bastard in front of me is someone who can't be brought into the light. In terms of rank, he's not even worthy to carry my shoes!"

Thinking of this, I felt a surge of joy, and my boots crunched as I stepped on the snow.

Jiang Nian remained expressionless, silently pondering something...

Just as she was pondering, she suddenly saw Ren Pijiang walking through the snow, and he smiled slightly at Jiang Nian: "Lord Jiang, please come with me to pay your respects."

……

……

Jiang Nian entered the warm chamber of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where she saw the incense burner burning brightly inside, its gilded incense emitting wisps of blue smoke. Emperor Taishun sat cross-legged on the kang (heated brick bed), still dressed in his dark blue robe with dragon motifs.

Jiang Nian stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, I thank you for allowing me to see the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager today."

"Get up." Emperor Taishun's voice was surprisingly gentle.

Jiang Nianfang stood up and suddenly saw Emperor Taishun pick up a memorial from the table and say, "Take a look."

After saying this, he instructed Ren Pijiang to hand the memorial to Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian took it with both hands, unfolded it, and examined it closely:

"I am suffering from a serious illness and cannot bear the heavy responsibility, so I earnestly request Your Majesty's grace to select a virtuous and capable person to succeed me as the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai."
Your humble servant, Lin Hai, Imperial Censor in charge of the salt tax in Lianghuai, respectfully submits this memorial, detailing his illness and earnestly requesting Your Majesty's grace to allow him to be relieved of his duties.

I am but a humble subject, yet by the Emperor's boundless grace, I have been selected from among the common folk and entrusted with the weighty responsibility of inspecting the salt administration of Lianghuai. Since receiving this appointment, I have been diligent and cautious day and night, never daring to slacken in the slightest. I have only wished to do my utmost to eliminate long-standing abuses and reorganize the salt administration, hoping to repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's favor. However, I am unfortunate and ill-fated. This winter, I suddenly fell seriously ill. At first, I thought it was just a common cold, but unexpectedly, it became a chronic disease. I have consulted renowned doctors and tried various medicines, but the disease has penetrated to the bone, severely damaging my vital energy. I force myself to continue my duties despite my illness, but my mind is becoming increasingly clouded, and my strength is waning. The salt administration is arduous and of paramount importance to the national revenue and the people's livelihood. Only a shrewd, capable, and energetic person can handle it. Now, I am frail and exhausted, both physically and mentally. The piles of paperwork constantly leave me feeling mentally and physically drained, and I am truly unable to continue. Whenever I think of the heavy responsibility entrusted to me by the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty, and the importance of the salt administration, and how I am powerless to do so and thus fail to perform my duties, I am filled with fear and anxiety, and my heart burns with rage.

After much deliberation, I deeply fear that clinging to this post due to my illness will not only be of no benefit to the salt administration, but will also jeopardize the nation's important plans and reduce the court's tax revenue. Such a crime would be unforgivable even by death. Rather than holding a position without merit and failing to live up to the Emperor's favor, it would be better to request to retire as soon as possible so that a virtuous and capable person can take my place.

Therefore, I, your humble servant, risk my life and offer my sincere and earnest prayers, humbly beseeching the Retired Emperor and His Majesty:
In your mercy and compassion, and considering my declining health, Your Majesty has granted my request to resign from my post as Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai, so that I may recuperate in peace.

We earnestly request Your Majesty to swiftly select an upright, honest, capable, and diligent minister to take up the post and manage the salt affairs, so as to ensure that the salt tax is paid in full and that the administration is orderly. This would be a great blessing for the nation and for all the people!

Your humble servant knows that I have served in vain and have not been able to repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's great kindness. Instead, I have offended Your Majesty with my ailing body, and I am filled with trembling fear and utter despair. I only hope that Your Majesty will have mercy on me and grant my request. Even if I were to retire to the mountains and forests, I would still burn incense morning and evening and pray for Your Majesty's long life and the prosperity of the nation.

Tears streamed down my face as I wrote this, and I was at a loss for words.

We humbly beseech Your Majesty the Retired Emperor and Your Majesty for your wise judgment!
Respectfully submitted.

Your subject, Lin Hai, bows deeply and respectfully.

This was originally a memorial from Lin Ruhai, the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai, requesting permission to return home due to illness. Lin Ruhai's courtesy name was Ruhai, hence the name Lin Ruhai. The memorial stated that he was seriously ill and no longer able to fulfill his important duties as Salt Commissioner, and earnestly requested the two emperors to select a more capable person.

After reading the memorial, Jiang Nian's heart was filled with turmoil. Firstly, because this matter involved Lin Ruhai, Lin Daiyu's father; secondly, because he immediately deduced that Emperor Taishun had specifically asked him to read this memorial, meaning he was to be sent to Yangzhou to reorganize the salt administration!

As expected, Emperor Taishun asked solemnly, "If I were to appoint you as an imperial envoy to go to Yangzhou to reorganize the salt administration, what strategies would you have?" His voice was not loud, but it was as powerful as metal striking the ground.

Jiang Nian had long been familiar with the salt administration in Yangzhou. After pondering for a moment, she shared her insights...

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taishun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said, "Very well! I hereby appoint you as Imperial Envoy, and you shall depart for Yangzhou in three days." He then added, "The Shen family, the head salt merchants of Yangzhou, were implicated in the previous Luo Jiao case; this time, they must be thoroughly investigated!"

He had long wanted to deal with the Shen family, and this time he had obtained permission from the retired Emperor Jingning.

Jiang Nian knelt down, lifting his robe: "Your subject obeys the decree."

"Get up." Emperor Taishun's tone suddenly softened. "The end of the year is approaching, and you will have to spend the New Year on the road." He then sighed, "I'm sorry to trouble you."

Jiang Nian hurriedly replied, "Serving the country and sharing His Majesty's burdens is my duty. In the past, when Yu the Great was controlling the floods, he passed by his home three times without entering. How could I possibly be concerned about a mere festival?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Taishun suddenly closed his eyes and sighed inwardly, "Without comparison, one cannot know the difference. This Yi'er truly has the bearing of a dragon prince! Not to mention that good-for-nothing Yuan Shi, he is even better than Li'er, whom I value highly!"

……

……

Jiang Nian and Emperor Taishun carefully discussed the matter of reforming the salt administration in Yangzhou before stepping out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The north wind swept in, carrying snowflakes. Looking around, the Forbidden City was covered in silver, like a palace in the heavens. The snow on the golden tiles was half a foot deep, and the vermilion palace walls were like a white veil, half-hidden and half-revealed, making them appear even more solemn.

Trees are rarely planted in the palace, but now, with snow covering the halls, the ridge beasts on the eaves—the chiwen, suanni, and xiezhi—all wearing snow hats, appear more lively than usual. The water-draining dragon heads under the white marble railings are spewing out icicles, crystal clear.

During spring, summer, and autumn, Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun mostly resided in Changchun Garden or elsewhere, only returning to the palace in winter. Although this was mainly due to the winter solstice sacrifice to Heaven, the New Year's Day court ceremony, and other major sacrificial ceremonies, Emperor Jingning also felt that the palace covered in snow in winter had a unique atmosphere; the golden tiles and vermilion walls against the white snow displayed both imperial majesty and refined elegance.

Jiang Nian deliberately walked slowly, her boots crunching on the snow in the palace, her mind racing with thoughts:

Firstly, this trip to the palace has been incredibly beneficial. Not only did I get to see the Three Emperors, but I also became close to my grandmother, the Empress Dowager. The sandalwood prayer beads I wore were still on my wrist, faintly emitting a sandalwood fragrance. It seems that my journey of recognizing my ancestors has taken another step forward.

Secondly, I'm about to go to Yangzhou. I wonder if Lin Ruhai, who is seriously ill, will die from his illness as described in the original novel? I guess I'm going to be connected with Lin Daiyu this time?
Thirdly, alas, I won't be able to spend the New Year at home with Yuan Chun, Bao Chai, Jing Qing, and other female relatives this year!
Lost in thought, I left the palace and looked back at the majestic palace walls, which stretched out like a giant dragon in the heavy snow.

He suddenly thought, "Entering the palace is like entering a deep sea. If I truly return to my ancestral home one day, I fear I will never be as carefree as I am today. But since I'm already in this situation, I should strive for a bright future. I should work hard and cherish the present!"

Meng Xiong had prepared a carriage and was waiting. When Jiang Nian came out, he asked, "Sir, shall we go straight home?"

Jiang Nian nodded.

The wheels rolled over the snow, leaving two deep ruts.

The snow was still falling...

……

……

Jiang Nian's carriage braved the wind and snow, crunching through the accumulated snow, and drove back to Jiang's residence on the eastern outskirts of Shenjing.

The snow was still falling, and a thick layer had accumulated on the roof of the car.

Upon arriving at the gate, one sees the entire courtyard covered in silver, with rows of icicles hanging from the roof tiles.

Inside the inner courtyard, Xue Baochai and Xing Xiuyan were enjoying the snow under the west wing corridor. Although Xing Xiuyan had only been with the Jiang family for a short time, she had won Xue Baochai's favor with her gentle nature and refined speech. The two, one wearing a honey-colored cotton-padded jacket and the other a lotus-root-colored cotton-padded jacket, looked like figures from a painting in the snowy weather.

Upon hearing that the master had returned to the mansion, the two quickly straightened their clothes and stood at attention, waiting quietly under the west wing's corridor. Then they saw Jing Qing emerge from the opposite east wing and wait quietly under the east wing's corridor.

On the main house side, Yuan Chun also received the news, stepped out the door, and stood under the eaves to wait.

Jiang Nian braved the wind and snow to step through the hanging flower gate.

Xue Baochai and Xing Xiuyan from the west wing, and Jing Qing from the east wing, all hurriedly knelt down to offer their greetings. Jiang Nian smiled and nodded to both sides before quickly walking towards the main room.

Yuan Chun stepped forward, her slender fingers gently brushing away the snowflakes from his hair, and then personally took off his cloak. After leading him into the inner room, she summoned Xiang Ling and Bao Qin to help him change.

While changing her clothes, Yuan Chun suddenly noticed a string of dark Buddhist prayer beads on Jiang Nian's wrist. The beads were smooth and shiny, clearly from years of handling. She couldn't help but ask in surprise, "When did you start wearing Buddhist prayer beads, Master?"

She knew that Jiang Nian had never liked fussy ornaments and did not believe in Buddhism. When Jiang Nian went out today, she was not seen wearing any Buddhist beads. How come she came back with a string of Buddhist beads on her wrist?
"I'll tell you later." Jiang Nian smiled slightly, took off the sandalwood prayer beads from her wrist, and handed them to Yuan Chun. "You can hold these for me."

Yuan Chun took it and examined it carefully. She was immediately taken aback and exclaimed in surprise, "This... isn't this the Buddhist prayer beads that the Empress Dowager wears all these years? How did it end up in your hands, sir? Did you visit the Empress Dowager in the palace today? And did she bestow this string of prayer beads that she has been reciting Buddhist prayers with for many years upon you?"

She had served the Empress Dowager for many years and was very familiar with this string of sandalwood prayer beads, often taking them off or putting them on for the Empress Dowager.

Yuan Chun forced herself to remain calm, carefully holding the prayer beads, knowing she would have to find out the truth later...

(End of this chapter)