The Red Mansion

Chapter 214 Jingning's Southern Inspection Tour, Taoist Divination

After hearing Jiang Nianzhi's words, Lin Ruhai nodded and said, "My dear nephew, you are currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, and this action has also been approved by the Emperor. Even if there are a thousand impeachments, it should not be a big problem."

At this point, he suddenly sighed deeply, his brows furrowed with worry: "It is I who, having served as the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai for several years, has failed to rectify the salt administration, truly failing the Emperor's grace. And what is hateful is that my advisor, Wen Zaizhang, accepted a staggering 20,000 taels of bribes, and was even an informant of Shen Chuan'en, yet I was completely unaware, thus bearing the blame for negligence. In this way, even if I am fortunate enough to escape death this time, the Emperor will likely punish me."

Before he could finish speaking, another sigh escaped his lips.

Upon hearing this, both Lin Daiyu and Aunt Qiu felt a pang of anxiety. Lin Daiyu looked at Jiang Nian with her bright, clear eyes, her gaze full of pleading. Aunt Qiu also looked worried, gazing expectantly at Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian's gaze lingered briefly on Lin Daiyu's face before she said to Lin Ruhai, "Uncle, you are mistaken. The salt administration in Lianghuai is deeply entrenched. Although you have not made any great achievements during your years in office, you have maintained the stability of the salt administration, which is no easy feat. Moreover, it is truly rare that you have been able to remain honest and upright in such a lucrative position."

After a pause, Jiang Nian continued, "My uncle deserves much credit for my swift and decisive rectification this time. I relied heavily on his guidance. If he hadn't been so insightful about the long-standing problems in the Lianghuai salt administration, it would have taken me a year and a half to figure it out on my own. As for the matter of Master Wen, according to the custom of our dynasty, it is rare to hold the supervising official responsible for the misconduct of a clerk."

At this point, Jiang Nian became solemn: "Uncle, please rest assured, I will plead with the Emperor. I believe that His Majesty is wise and will not punish you."

Lin Ruhai was grateful and was about to get up to bow when Jiang Nian quickly stopped him.

Aunt Qiu bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Lord Jiang."

Upon seeing this, Lin Daiyu also gracefully bowed. Her head was lowered, the pearl pendants by her ears trembled slightly, and her cheeks were flushed, showing both gratitude and shyness.

Lin Ruhai steadied himself and said, "I am ashamed of my inferiority in the methods used by my nephew to reform the salt administration. However, there is a saying that is quite true: governing the salt administration is like governing a country; the best approach is to combine firmness with leniency. My nephew has already shown his decisive methods; it would be better to be more lenient in the future."

Jiang Nian smiled and replied, "That is exactly what I am planning, and I was just about to ask my uncle for advice. I hope my uncle will not hesitate to give me his guidance on stabilizing the salt administration."

Although Lin Ruhai dared not make sweeping reforms, he was indeed exceptional in maintaining the stable operation of the salt industry.

……

……

It was already the 26th day of the first lunar month.

The sky over the capital was clear and bright. Although there was no wind or snow, the northern wind still lingered, and a chill was felt on one's face.

Inside the palace, the glazed tiles reflected the morning light, resplendent in gold and green, yet unable to conceal a sense of solemnity.

Today marks the start of the seventh southern tour of the retired Emperor Jingning. Although it is called a southern tour, this trip is actually dedicated to enjoying the scenery of Jiangnan and appreciating the beauty of his later years.

The palace has already issued an imperial edict stating that this trip must be simple and frugal, and should not be extravagant.

However, the imperial system cannot be taken lightly.
The entourage consisted of over a thousand people, ranging from princes and nobles to eunuchs and guards.

Prince Zhongshun and several other princes and ministers were among the entourage; the emperor's grandsons Yuan Xi and Yuan Li also accompanied the emperor; and the chief eunuch Dai Quan stayed by his side at all times, making arrangements for everything.

Although this display was not as grand as when Emperor Jingning ascended the throne, it was still imposing and not to be taken lightly.

The imperial carriage is ready.

Emperor Jingning, dressed in a fox fur cloak, was over seventy years old but still vigorous, with a hint of the former imperial power between his brows.

Emperor Taishun personally escorted him to the palace gate, held his hand and respectfully wished him well, saying, "Father, your journey to Jiangnan is long, please take good care of yourself."

Emperor Jingning nodded slightly and said, "I was merely taking a leisurely stroll to relax. You, in the court, should prioritize the well-being of the nation."

After exchanging a few more words, Emperor Taishun personally escorted the imperial carriage as it slowly departed.

The ceremonial procession departed from the palace, passed through the Imperial Street, went through Zhengyang Gate, and headed east, exiting directly through Chaoyang Gate.

The route was already cleared by the military governor of the capital and the five city garrisons, preventing ordinary people from getting close.

The dragon flags fluttered, golden maces and axes were arrayed in a menacing array, the guards and soldiers were clad in gleaming armor, the horses neighed, and the carriages rumbled—truly, "the majesty of the emperor was within reach, awe-inspiring and magnificent."

The crowd knelt down by the roadside, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Their voices shook the heavens.

When the imperial carriage arrived outside Chaoyang Gate, Emperor Taishun still refused to return to the capital and personally escorted it for several miles. It was only after Emperor Jingning repeatedly sent people to urge him that he finally bid farewell.

Emperor Jingning slightly raised his hand, signaling to resume the journey. The procession, like a golden dragon, continued eastward toward Luhe Post Station.

……

……

On this day, the retired Emperor Jingning set off on his southern tour, and his former eighth son Yuan Si, ninth son Yuan Tang, and tenth son Yuan Jie respectfully saw him off.

After the imperial carriage had gone far away, everyone dispersed, and Yuan Si, Yuan Tang, and Yuan San went straight to Yuan Si's residence.

Yuan Si's mansion was grand in scale, with exquisite pavilions and lush flowers and trees.

As soon as the three entered the mansion, someone stepped forward and whispered to Yuan Si, "Master Sun has been waiting quietly in the back garden for quite some time."

Yuan Si nodded slightly, said nothing more, and led Yuan Tang and Yuan through several courtyards, heading straight to a secluded pavilion in the back garden.

The pavilion is surrounded by green pines and bamboos, making it very quiet.

Pushing open the door, one sees a middle-aged Taoist priest sitting cross-legged on a futon, eyes closed in meditation. This man wears a nine-yang turban and a black Taoist robe, with a long beard flowing down his chest; he is none other than Sun Xuanfeng, Yuan Si's trusted advisor.

Hearing footsteps, Sun Xuanfeng opened his eyes and saw that it was his three sons and grandsons entering. He quickly stood up, bowed, and paid his respects.

Yuan Si gestured for everyone to sit down, and after the maidservants served fragrant tea, they all withdrew.

With only four people remaining in the room, Yuan Sifang slowly said, "I invited you here today, Taoist priest, to have you predict the fortune of someone who is going on this trip with the Emperor Emeritus."

Sun Xuanfeng's eyes flickered slightly as he asked, "I wonder who Eighth Master is referring to?"

Yuan Si gently stroked his teacup and said calmly, "Fourth Prince Yuan Li!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Xuanfeng's whisk trembled slightly. As Yuan Si's trusted advisor for a long time, how could he not know about the power struggles within the royal family? He immediately understood and thought to himself, "So Eighth Prince is going to make a move against the Fourth Prince!" However, he showed no change in expression and simply cupped his hands and said, "This humble Taoist will now cast a divination."

Having said that, he took out three ancient bronze coins and arranged them in a six-line hexagram on the incense table. He burned incense and washed his hands, chanting incantations as the coins jingled as they fell. Once the hexagram was arranged, Sun Xuanfeng examined it closely, and suddenly his expression changed drastically.

Yuan, being impatient, quickly asked upon seeing this, "What does the divination indicate?"

Sun Xuanfeng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "The divination for the Fourth Prince's journey south is an ominous sign. Kan represents water, which signifies entrapment; Li represents fire, which signifies disaster. The clash between water and fire foreshadows bloodshed. Furthermore, the White Tiger is in the palace, which suggests..."

He suddenly fell silent at this point.

Yuan pressed, "What could it be? Speak quickly!"

Sun Xuanfeng glanced around at Yuan Si, Yuan Tang, and Yuan, and whispered, "I'm afraid their lives are in danger!"

Before he could finish speaking, the lid of Yuan Si's teacup made a soft "ding" sound.

Yuan Tang and Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes.

Yuan Si remained calm and asked, "Daoist, can you see it clearly?" Sun Xuanfeng solemnly replied, "The divination is as described, but this matter is of great importance, and I dare not make any rash judgments. Furthermore..." He hesitated slightly, "This calamity seems to be driven by external forces, and is not purely the will of Heaven."

Yuan Si smiled slightly, thinking to himself, "Whether it's fate or human will, it's all destiny!"

After Sun Xuanfeng took his leave, Yuan could no longer contain himself and clapped his hands, laughing, "Truly, Heaven is on my side! Yuan Li is really going to be defeated in Jiangnan this time!"

Yuan Tang also laughed and said, "We've planned this carefully, and now we're just waiting to see how it goes!"

Yuan Si raised his hand to stop the two from talking and said in a low voice, "Walls have ears."

The three of them looked at each other and smiled.

……

……

On the 26th day of the first lunar month, the sun shone brightly over Yangzhou. Although it still carried a chill in the air, it was warmer than the northern capital.

Inside the Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion in the back garden of the Salt Bureau, Jiang Nian was sitting alone by the window, holding a decree issued by the capital, studying it carefully.

The imperial edict, with its yellow silk background and bright red seal, was an important document issued by the court to the entire country.

This imperial edict contains two important matters: First, the retired Emperor Jingning is scheduled to embark on a southern tour on the 26th day of the first month, and officials along the way are ordered to keep the reception simple and not to make extravagant arrangements; second, the two emperors have secretly established an heir apparent on the 16th day of the first month, and officials are strictly prohibited from making unwarranted speculations or engaging in unfounded discussions.

Jiang Nian read the imperial edict five or six times before gently placing it on the table.

"I never expected that the retired Emperor Jingning would make his seventh southern tour. Today is the 26th of the first month, and the retired emperor has already set off for the south. I will naturally go to receive him, since I am not only the imperial envoy acting as the salt administration of Lianghuai, but also the retired emperor's unofficial grandson."

Jiang Nian thought to herself, her eyes flashing slightly.

Although he cared about this matter, he was more concerned about the secret succession of the two emperors.

Everyone in the court knew perfectly well that the two emperors' preferred heir apparent was Yuan Li.

Jiang Nian naturally understood this even better, after all, Yuan Li in this world was equivalent to the Qianlong Emperor in his previous life.

"In the end, they secretly made Yuan Li the crown prince. As a commoner prince who hasn't even been included in the imperial genealogy, the pressure of vying for the throne is immense!"

Jiang Nian fell into deep thought.

He pondered for a full half hour, his heart heavy with unresolved issues, finding the words on the imperial edict glaringly irritating.

He got up and walked out of Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion.

The maid Xiao Nan was standing outside the pavilion. When she saw him come out, she quickly moved closer with light steps and smiled, "My lord, you've come out at just the right time. Listen, the young lady is playing the zither in the Hibiscus Pavilion."

Jiang Nian listened intently and indeed heard the faint sound of a zither in the distance. Although it was not very clear, it was still melodious and moving.

He straightened his clothes and, with Xiao Nan in tow, headed towards the Hibiscus Pavilion. Along the way, lush flowers and trees set off the white walls and gray tiles, already exuding the charm of springtime in Jiangnan.

Upon entering the hall, one sees Lin Daiyu sitting gracefully before the zither, her slender fingers gently plucking and strumming the strings.

Zijuan and Xueyan stood by.

Aunt Qiu and Xiao Dan listened quietly from the side.

When he entered, everyone greeted him.

Distracted, Lin Daiyu abruptly stopped playing the zither. She lightly flicked her sleeve, and the jade bracelet on her snow-white wrist touched the strings, making a crisp "ding" sound. She then rose to greet the player.

Jiang Nian laughed and said, "You can actually play the zither? I was truly ignorant."

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling: "I learned it when I was young, but I've neglected it for a long time. Today, I suddenly felt like playing it, but it's like 'if you don't play for three days, your hands will grow thorns.'"

Hearing Lin Daiyu say this, Jiang Nian nodded and said, "Indeed, I heard a few notes that were out of tune just now. It is clear that although you understand the principles of playing the zither, you are not a proficient player."

“You…” Lin Daiyu immediately frowned, her cheeks flushing slightly. “If I’m not an expert, do you think you are?”

Jiang Nian decisively replied, "Although I wouldn't dare say I'm an expert, I'm probably better than you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu forgot her anger and instead her eyes lit up with surprise, her voice even becoming a little lighter: "You really can play the zither?"

Seeing this, Aunt Qiu quickly smiled and smoothed things over: "If Lord Jiang really knows how to play the zither, why not teach us a piece? Let us broaden our horizons as well."

Xiao Nan and Xiao Dan watched expectantly from the side, while Xue Yan quietly nudged Zi Juan, and the two exchanged a smile.

Jiang Nian did not refuse and went straight to the zither table to sit down.

He carefully examined the zither in front of him and saw that it was a seven-stringed paulownia wood zither. Although it was not a famous piece, it was still simple and elegant.

He lightly stroked the strings with his fingertips, tested a few notes, and thought to himself, "Although this zither is far inferior to the Nine Heavens Jade Pendant I gave to Yuan Chun, it is still a fine zither."

Having finished tuning the strings, he straightened his clothes, and with a light flick of his fingers, a string of clear notes flowed from the icy strings. At first, it was like the dripping of a secluded spring, its clear sound echoing in an empty valley; then it was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, each one crisp and countable; suddenly, it turned into a melody that twisted and turned, like a lament, like a yearning, like a sob, like a plea. The music was sometimes tender and low, as if carrying endless unspoken thoughts; sometimes elusive, like a lover's whisper. It portrayed a love story of longing with profound depth.

Lin Daiyu, along with Xiao Nan, Xiao Dan, Zi Juan, and Xue Yan, were all captivated by the music. They held their breath, completely absorbed in the novel melody and enthralled by Jiang Nian's elegant demeanor as she played the zither. Jiang Nian's fingering was skillful and composed; her ten fingers flew across the strings as naturally as flowing clouds and water.

As the music ended and the strings were put down, the lingering melody remained, echoing endlessly.

Aunt Qiu was the first to applaud, saying, "In all my years, I have never heard such a novel piece of music. I wonder what it is called? Is there any story behind it?"

Jiang Nian gently stroked the strings, a slight smile playing on her lips: "This piece is called 'Longing,' which I composed in my spare time and specially gifted to my virtuous wife at home."

This seemingly ordinary sentence made the maids Xiao Nan, Xiao Dan, Zi Juan, and Xue Yan secretly envious of Madam Jiang.

Xiao Nan and Xiao Dan had never met Yuan Chun, but Zi Juan and Xue Yan had both met her at the Rongguo Mansion. Zi Juan, in particular, had some affection for Yuan Chun.

Zijuan couldn't help but think to herself, "No wonder I often heard people in the Rong Mansion say that the eldest daughter married well. Now I finally understand what they meant!"

Aunt Qiu smiled and said, "Sir, not only is your musical skill superb, but you also have the talent to compose music. What's even more remarkable is that you composed such a beautiful love song for your wife. It's truly a romantic affair between a talented man and a beautiful woman! Sir also calls your wife 'virtuous wife,' which shows that your wife must be virtuous and kind, and it also shows that you and your wife have a deep and loving relationship."

Lin Daiyu remained silent, even unconsciously lowering her head. At this moment, she couldn't help but envy Yuan Chun, and along with that envy, a strange bitterness arose within her.

"I never imagined that my brother-in-law would be such a refined person, and even have such a considerate heart!"

"One can only imagine how happy Sister Yuanchun would be to receive such a wonderful song."

"If only he could also compose a special piece of music for me..."

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu felt her face flush and quickly suppressed this absurd thought.

(End of this chapter)