The Red Mansion

Chapter 202 Secretary Lin

The next day was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was the Lantern Festival.

At dawn, inside Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion, Jiang Nian was reviewing documents related to the salt administration of Lianghuai when Xiao Nan suddenly reported, "My lord, Zijuan has arrived."

Jiang Nian looked up, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Oh? What is it about?"

Xiao Nan shook her head: "She wouldn't say, only that she wanted to see the adults."

"Call her in." Jiang Nian put down the documents and straightened her clothes.

Before long, Zijuan entered with graceful steps and bowed to Jiang Nianying, saying, "Greetings to Lord Jiang."

The morning light shone through the window screen, making a silver hairpin in her hair shine.

Jiang Nian asked, "Is there something wrong, Miss Lin?"

Zijuan glanced at Xiaonan, who was standing to the side, and said, "Miss sent me to ask what time Lord Jiang went to Sibing Hall today?"

Last night, Jiang Nian only said that she would discuss the confidential salt administration with Lin Ruhai again at Chenshi (7-9 AM) today, and asked Lin Daiyu to keep watch, but she did not specify the exact time of Chenshi.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian's lips unconsciously curled up, thinking to herself, "This Lin sister is quite interesting. Last night, she was unwilling to keep watch, but today she actually took the initiative to ask about the time." However, she did not show it on her face, and only said, "I will go at the second quarter of Chen hour."

Having received confirmation, Zijuan curtsied and took her leave.

After leaving Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion, I quickened my pace and soon returned to Hibiscus Pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, Lin Daiyu was dressing her hair in front of a mirror, while another maid, Xueyan, served her beside her.

Upon seeing Zijuan return, Lin Daiyu immediately turned around and asked, "What did he say?"

Zijuan smiled and said, "Lord Jiang said that the second quarter of Chen Shi had passed, and now there are only three quarters left until the second quarter of Chen Shi."

Lin Daiyu hurriedly said, "Hurry up and do my makeup, don't be late." As she spoke, she handed a white jade plum blossom hairpin to Zijuan, "I want to wear this today."

Zijuan smiled, and while putting a white jade plum blossom hairpin into Lin Daiyu's hair, she said, "It's really strange. Lord Jiang wants you to go and keep watch again, and you seem quite eager."

"Tch!" Lin Daiyu's ears burned, and she glared at Zijuan in the mirror. "What do you know!" Her voice was soft, but it carried a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.

Seeing this, Zijuan found it even more amusing and deliberately said, "Yes, yes, I'm dull-witted. But you used to despise all this talk of officialdom and economics, so why are you now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly saw Lin Daiyu turn her head and give him a wink, so he quickly stopped talking.

After finishing her makeup, Lin Daiyu got up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the rising sun illuminated the withered lotus leaves in the small pond, making them appear to shimmer and glow.

Just as she was engrossed in watching, she suddenly heard Zijuan say, "Miss, the time is almost up."

Lin Daiyu quickly straightened her clothes, looked at herself in the mirror again, and then led Zijuan to the Sibing Hall.

As she stepped out of the Hibiscus Pavilion, the morning breeze brushed her face, carrying a hint of chill, but it couldn't dispel the inexplicable anticipation in her heart—what secret salt policy matters would that stinky brother-in-law discuss with her father today?

When Lin Daiyu and Zijuan arrived at the Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion, they couldn't help but stop.

Seeing Lin Daiyu staring absently at the entrance, Zijuan smiled and said, "Would you like to go in and see if Lord Jiang is still there, Miss?"

Lin Daiyu suddenly came to her senses, her cheeks flushed, and she said urgently, "Don't talk nonsense! What does it matter to us whether he is here or not? Go to the Sibing Hall... serving Father is the most important thing."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Nian strode out of the pavilion.

Today, Jiang Nian is still dressed in his guard uniform, with a black sable cloak over it, and the jade belt at his waist shines brightly in the morning sun, making him look even more imposing.

Upon seeing Lin Daiyu standing outside the pavilion, Jiang Nian was taken aback at first, then smiled meaningfully.

That smile seemed to burn Lin Daiyu. She hurriedly turned to leave, but then heard a clear voice calling from behind: "Sister Lin."

Hearing this, Lin Daiyu couldn't pretend she hadn't heard, so she stopped and turned around, her ears turning red. She whispered, "I...I have to go serve Father..."

Jiang Nian strode forward and carefully examined Lin Daiyu in the sunlight. She noticed that Lin Daiyu had dressed up meticulously today, wearing a light purple satin jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, a moon-white pleated skirt, and a white jade plum blossom hairpin in her hair, making her look like fresh snow after a storm, pure and elegant.

A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

Lin Daiyu felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, twisting her handkerchief repeatedly with her fingers. Suddenly, Jiang Nian said to Zijuan, "You should step aside." His tone left no room for argument.

Zijuan looked at Lin Daiyu and saw that although Lin Daiyu's face was flushed with embarrassment, she remained silent. She had no choice but to retreat to a distance of three zhang, but she kept glancing in this direction.

"Sister Lin," Jiang Nian lowered her voice, "from now on, may I call you 'Secretary Lin'?"

Lin Daiyu was taken aback: "Secretary Lin?"

This name is really strange.

In this era, "secretary" generally refers to an official position or institution that is in charge of confidential documents, books and archives.

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "Since you heard my secret last night, you should know even more today. Calling you secretary is quite fitting. However, this title is not convenient for outsiders to know. I'll only call you that in private, how about that?"

Lin Daiyu pondered for a moment, finding the title rather novel and interesting, but said aloud, "No!" Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of stubbornness.

Jiang Nian suddenly hardened her face and said in a deep voice, "You have to have it whether you want it or not! I'm going to Sibing Hall first. Secretary Lin, hurry up and follow me. Don't let this interfere with the important salt administration matters between me and your father!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken several steps.

Lin Daiyu stood there, stunned, not knowing what to do. The words "Secretary Lin" echoed in her ears, making her feel both ashamed and angry, but also with a strange, indescribable feeling.

Zijuan hurried over and asked curiously, "What private conversation did Lord Jiang have with the young lady?"

"He didn't say anything!" Lin Daiyu suddenly snapped. "Mind your own business!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Zijuan was bewildered by the scolding and thought aggrievedly, "It must be that Lord Jiang has angered you again, Miss. You dare not argue with him, so you take your anger out on me. I am truly wronged!"

Lin Daiyu walked quickly, her mind in turmoil—that wretched brother-in-law was sometimes gentle and kind, sometimes sharp and stern, truly unpredictable…

Zijuan caught up and said cautiously, "Miss, slow down, watch your step..."

Lin Daiyu ignored him and kept walking forward. Suddenly, she stopped and thought, "That wretched brother-in-law treats me like this, I don't want to keep watch for him!" So she turned around to go back to Furong Pavilion, but then she suddenly stopped again and thought, "Forget it! Since it's a matter of great importance in salt administration, I can't be negligent, or I'll displease Father. I... I went to keep watch for Father, not for him, humph!"

Zijuan caught up and said, "What are you standing there for, young lady?"

"I want you to mind your own business!"

After saying this, Lin Daiyu turned and left.

Zijuan: "..."

……

……

At dawn, in the inner room of the Sibing Hall, the rising sun casts the shadows of the carved window frames onto the blue brick floor, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Lin Ruhai leaned against the headboard, his complexion slightly better than yesterday, but he still looked haggard.

Lin Daiyu stood quietly by the window, sometimes glancing outside, sometimes tiptoeing to the door to inspect the view. Her focused demeanor was even more composed than the night before.

Jiang Nian sat upright by the bed, having already asked Lin Ruhai three questions. Now she asked in a low voice, "If a chief merchant were to be appointed in Yangzhou to lead the merchants, oversee important affairs, and mediate disputes, in your opinion, which merchant would be suitable for this position?"

Lin Ruhai was shocked upon hearing this, his withered fingers clenching the brocade quilt tightly: "This...is this the Emperor's will or Lord Jiang's idea?"

"His Majesty has made up his mind!" Jiang Nian's voice was extremely soft, yet every word carried immense weight. In fact, it was he who offered this plan to Emperor Taishun.

Lin Ruhai took a deep breath, knowing the importance of this matter. After pondering for a long time, he said, "If I had to choose one person, I would recommend Tang Chengyu. Although he is not the wealthiest, he is trustworthy and has a high reputation among the salt merchants."

Jiang Nian nodded, then asked other questions...

The two questioned each other for more than two quarters of an hour, delving deeper and into more secretive topics than the previous night. These topics included not only the long-standing problems in the salt administration and the infighting among officials, but also Jiang Nian's plan to reform the salt administration...

Lin Daiyu overheard their conversation. Although she was young and confined to her chambers, she was exceptionally intelligent and understood almost everything. Her heart pounded as she thought to herself, "If this secret is leaked, not only will that scoundrel... my cousin-in-law's efforts to reform the salt administration be thwarted, but he will also betray the Emperor's trust."

She then thought about Jiang Nian's decisive actions, which were even more swift and decisive than her father's. Although her father was aware of the deep-seated problems in the salt administration, he had never been able to take drastic measures due to concerns about various factions. But Jiang Nian, upon arriving in Yangzhou, was determined to address the core issues directly; this courage was truly admirable.

The salt administration in Yangzhou was a complex and murky affair. However, in Jiang Nian's view, reforming it wasn't difficult; the key was whether or not they dared to do it!

Lin Ruhai dared not.

Jiang Nian, however, dared to.

Because he was the grandson of Emperor Jingning and the son of Emperor Taishun, and was appreciated by both Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun, and was also blessed with good fortune.

Just as the secret meeting on salt administration was over, Jiang Nian suddenly smiled and said, "Uncle, today is the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month."

Lin Ruhai replied weakly, "That's exactly what I was about to mention. Logically, we should treat Lord Jiang well, but I'm too ill to do my best as a host. If you don't mind, you can order the kitchen to prepare a feast so that we can celebrate the Lantern Festival together with the accompanying guards."

Jiang Nian waved her hand and said, "There's no need for that." Then she suddenly changed the subject and became serious. "I just wanted to show weakness to the enemy and pretend to be relaxed. Tonight I want to take a night tour of Yangzhou, and in the next few days I will visit many famous scenic spots to confuse those demons and monsters."

Lin Ruhai nodded in understanding, but seeing that Jiang Nian seemed hesitant to speak, he asked, "Does Lord Jiang have any further advice?"

“I do have a request,” Jiang Nian said seriously. “To make this leisurely demeanor seem more genuine, I would like to…” He paused slightly, “and invite Sister Lin to accompany me on an outing tonight and for the next few days. I hope you will grant my request, Uncle.”

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Lin Ruhai stood there stunned, while Lin Daiyu's ears burned with rage, and she twisted her handkerchief in her hand.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Ruhai's gaze shifted between his daughter and Jiang Nian. He knew the request was far-fetched, and even suspected that Jiang Nian had ulterior motives, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse her outright.

Jiang Nian continued, "Uncle, rest assured, I will certainly observe proper etiquette. In addition to the maid Zijuan, I will also send two experienced female servants to accompany you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai found it even more difficult to refuse outright, so he slowly said, "Since it is for official business... then I will do as you wish, sir."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu parted her lips slightly as if to speak but then stopped, inwardly annoyed: "What an ill-mannered person! Although we are related, there is still a difference between men and women. What kind of behavior is this, traveling together like this!"

Hmm, disgusting!

Lin Daiyu then remembered that it was the Lantern Festival today, and Yangzhou would surely be extremely lively tonight. Moreover, she had never properly explored Yangzhou's famous scenic spots before, so it would be nice to take this opportunity to see them.

A lingering thought crossed my mind: "He specifically invited me, could it be..."

Thinking of this, two blushes rose on Furong's face, and she quickly lowered her head to hide them.

Jiang Nian stood up and said to Lin Daiyu, "At four quarters past 5 o'clock today, I will take Sister Lin out."

After saying that, he said goodbye and left.

After Jiang Nian left, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but say to Lin Ruhai, "Father, about this matter..."

Lin Ruhai sighed, "This matter is against etiquette, but... Lord Jiang's reform of the salt administration is a very important matter. Yu'er, you... you must not be willful."

Lin Daiyu: "..."

……

……

As soon as Jiang Nianfang left Sibingtang, Qi Jianyu rushed over to report: "My lord, Shen Chuan'en has come to see you again."

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Nian's eyes, but a faint smile appeared on her lips: "You've come at the perfect time."

There are twenty general merchants in Yangzhou, the largest of whom is Shen Chuan'en, whose family is extremely wealthy and can be considered the richest man in Yangzhou today.

Jiang Nian knew his background all along, but she still pretended to be polite.

He immediately straightened his clothes and headed towards the outer hall.

Shen Chuan'en was still dressed neatly in his fifth-rank official robes. Upon seeing Jiang Nian arrive, he hurriedly bowed with a beaming smile: "Shen Chuan'en, the chief merchant of Yangzhou, greets Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy!"

Jiang Nian smiled and returned the greeting: "Master Shen, there's no need for such formalities."

The two took their seats as host and guest, respectively.

Shen Chuan'en said, "Lord Jiang is a young and talented man, highly valued by His Majesty. Now, as an imperial envoy, he has come to Yangzhou, which means he has a bright future." He then added, "To my shame, when my ancestor was alive, he had the honor of receiving the Emperor Jingning on his southern tour. Back then, when the rebellion of the princes was quelled, my Shen family donated 500,000 taels of silver to help with the military supplies and organized many salt merchants to help alleviate the national crisis. Although I was a merchant, I was still granted a fifth-rank official position by imperial grace."

Jiang Nian deliberately praised, "This is an act of loyalty and righteousness! No wonder he was rewarded with a fifth-rank official position."

But inwardly, he sneered.

Shen Chuan'en was clearly implying that his family had deep roots and a past connection with the retired Emperor Jingning.

After several rounds of tea, Shen Chuan'en finally got to the point, respectfully asking, "I wonder what the procedures are for Lord Jiang's appointment as acting salt commissioner this time? If there is anything I can do to help, I am willing to serve you."

Jiang Nian sighed, a hint of helplessness in her voice: "To be honest, it is because Imperial Censor Lin is seriously ill and unable to fulfill his duties as Salt Inspector that I have been appointed by His Majesty to fill the vacancy. However, His Majesty has no one else to appoint, so he has temporarily appointed me. I am young and inexperienced, and all I ask is to maintain the stability of the salt administration." She lowered her voice as she spoke, "The salt administration of Lianghuai cannot be allowed to fall into chaos, otherwise I fear I will lose my head. I only hope that the new Salt Inspector will arrive soon so that I can be relieved of this heavy burden."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that they perfectly captured the "style" of a timid and hesitant young official.

"Lord Jiang is too modest." Shen Chuan'en became even more respectful. "Today is the Lantern Festival, and I would like to invite Lord Jiang to a banquet. Would you do me the honor of attending?"

Jiang Nian smiled and said, "I appreciate Mr. Shen's kindness. However, I have already made plans to take a night stroll tonight to experience the liveliness of Yangzhou."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Shen Chuan'en finally took his leave.

Jiang Nian escorted him to the steps, watching the departing figure, a cold glint reappearing in her eyes...

Qi Jianyu couldn't help but lean closer and whisper, "Why is the master treating him so warmly?"

Jiang Nian smiled slightly: "Don't worry, the show is just beginning!"

(End of this chapter)