The Red Mansion

Chapter 258 The Thoughts of Concubines and Husbands

Consort Xi, née Liu, left the harmonious and joyful Ningchun Hall and returned to her residence in Changchun Garden.

The room was quiet, with the sound of cicadas chirping intermittently outside the window.

She dismissed everyone around her, leaving only the lady-in-waiting Zhi Ning to sit alone in front of the carved sandalwood dressing mirror. She stared blankly at her still beautiful but tired and haggard face reflected in the mirror.

The person in the mirror still retained the splendor of the time when she was favored, but her eyes were filled with an unyielding sorrow and emptiness.

As she looked at it, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat, and two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto the dressing table and spreading out small wet marks.

She thought of her short-lived son, Yuan Li.

If Li'er were still alive, he would be as dashing as Yuan Yi is today, enjoying the company of his grandparents and displaying his talents before his father.

Today in Ningchun Hall, the newly returned Yuan Yi, dressed in a python robe and jade belt, exuded an air of elegance. He played the zither and discussed filial piety with ease, his demeanor radiant and confident. In a daze, she vaguely glimpsed a few traces of her son's appearance when he was alive in that unfamiliar figure.

However, her daughter Li'er will never have such an opportunity again!
Thinking of this, my heart aches terribly, and tears stream down my face uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Lady Zhining stepped forward, handed her a handkerchief, and whispered words of comfort: "Your Majesty, please take good care of your health."

Consort Xi did not take the handkerchief, but simply waved her hand weakly, her voice hoarse: "You may leave now, let me have some peace and quiet."

Knowing her temperament, Zhi Ning dared not say more and quietly withdrew.

The room grew increasingly quiet, with only Consort Xi left weeping in front of the mirror.

Tears blurred her vision in the mirror, and the scene of Yuan Yi in Ningchun Hall still lingered in her mind—his composed demeanor, clear and precise playing, novel zither music, and even his ingenious expression of filial piety when asking for the ferrous blue paper and the genuine gold-leaf ink… scene after scene, vivid and unforgettable.

She stopped crying, looked up at her tear-streaked face in the mirror, and thought to herself:

“My Li’er is gone. That unruly and dull-witted Yuan Shi is now imprisoned, with no hope left for him in this life. The only princes His Majesty has left are Yuan Zhou, his youngest son who is weak and sickly and whose adulthood is still uncertain, and Yuan Yi who suddenly returned to the clan.”

Therefore, it seems highly likely that the throne will fall to either Yuan Zhou or Yuan Yi. Yuan Zhou's talent is merely average. Yuan Yi, on the other hand… is skilled in both literature and martial arts, quick-witted, and adept at discerning the emperor's intentions and catering to his heart. He handles the Emperor Emeritus, Empress Dowager, and Emperor with flawless skill, earning them considerable favor. Although he comes from humble origins and seems to have shallow roots, his words and actions reveal him to be no ordinary person! If he truly harbors ambitions for the throne, how could someone like Yuan Zhou possibly be a match for him?”

Thinking of this, Consort Xi felt a complex mix of emotions, including the frustration of having no son to inherit the throne and anxieties about the future situation...

……

……

After leaving Ningchun Hall, Consort Yu returned to her residence in Changchun Garden, remaining silent the entire way.

Once inside, she dismissed the usual palace servants, leaving only her trusted maid, Yueheng, by her side.

She leaned against the couch by the window and asked casually, "Yueheng, you were there at Ningchun Hall just now, watching everything unfold. What do you think of... that newly returned prince?"

Yueheng was pouring tea when she heard this. She put down the teapot and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, that prince is a good man. Not only is he handsome, but he also has a calm and steady demeanor. His speech and behavior are also very proper. He can play the zither and compose music. He can also handle himself with ease in front of the Emperor Emeritus, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor!"

As soon as she spoke, she realized something was amiss and quickly added, "However... although he is good, he is ultimately a latecomer to the sect. In my humble opinion, in terms of foundation and bearing, he is still not as noble and innate as our Fifth Master."

The "Fifth Master" naturally refers to Consort Yu's biological son, Yuan Zhou.

Upon hearing this, Consort Yu's lips twitched slightly, revealing a smile. She said softly, "Now that he has returned to the clan and his status is settled, after the ceremony of paying homage at the temple and the order of his teeth being recorded in the imperial genealogy, Zhou'er's ranking will be moved from fifth to sixth. From now on, he should be called 'Sixth Master'."

Yueheng hurriedly replied, "What you say is true, Master. But whether it is Fifth Master or Sixth Master, they are the masters I respect the most in my heart."

Consort Yu waved her hand: "That's enough, you don't need to serve me here anymore. Please leave and let me have some peace and quiet."

Yueheng responded with a "Yes," bowed, and withdrew.

The room fell silent, with only Consort Yu remaining on the bed.

Consort Yu leaned back into the soft pillows, closed her eyes, and the smile on her face faded, replaced by complex contemplation.

She was not by nature the kind of person who was competitive or scheming. She was always well-behaved and cheerful. In the deep palace, she only hoped that her son would grow up safely and that she could live a peaceful life.

She had not previously planned for her son Yuan Zhou to compete with Yuan Li for the throne.

However, Yuan Li was assassinated in Yangzhou, and her son Yuan Zhou was suddenly thrust into the spotlight, becoming the most popular candidate for crown prince in the eyes of many. Even her maternal relatives, eunuchs, and palace servants secretly congratulated her, as if Yuan Zhou's succession was a foregone conclusion.

Even the still lake of her heart couldn't help but be stirred by the ripples.

But who would have thought that at this very moment, a prince named Yuan Yi, who had returned to the imperial family, would appear and win the emperor's favor!

Today at Ningchun Hall, she observed Yuan Yi's words and actions closely. She found him to be both dashing and composed, speaking with ease and sincerity. Moreover, his skill in playing the zither and his discourse on filial piety had won over the Emperor Emeritus, the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor. Such a person was no ordinary individual. As for her own son, Yuan Zhou, although not stupid, he was not particularly outstanding and was fond of playing and enjoying himself.

Thinking of this, Consort Yu felt as if a bottle of mixed emotions had been spilled, with all sorts of feelings churning within her.

There was surprise at Yuan Yi's sudden appearance, worry about his son's future, melancholy at the disruption of their past peace, and even a hint of indescribable... apprehension.

In her view, the future suddenly became unpredictable and uncertain...

……

……

In the early morning, the sky was clear and the blazing sun poured down without any obstruction, illuminating the majestic palace gate of Changchun Garden and the open square in front of it, making the white marble steps almost reflect a dazzling halo.

There were many carriages and horses parked in the square, including Yuan Yi's prince carriage.

The carriage was spacious and exquisitely furnished. Yuan Yi and Yuan Chun sat facing each other. A squad of the emperor's personal guards and servants were scattered around the carriage, awaiting orders.

The couple were waiting for He Yun. He Yun had been summoned to an audience with Emperor Taishun and had not yet come out.

On a brocade cushion in one corner of the carriage, several square objects wrapped in silk were neatly placed. These were imperial gifts bestowed by Emperor Taishun: thick, resilient, and smooth blue-green paper and several boxes of dazzling genuine gold leaf. Yuan Yi was leaning back against the carriage wall, resting with his eyes closed. However, his slightly furrowed brow and the occasional tapping of his knuckles on the armrest revealed that he was not truly resting, but rather immersed in thought.

What he kept thinking about was whether his efforts to show filial piety in front of the two emperors would backfire and make them dislike him, thinking he was being hypocritical.
In fact, he had already weighed this issue.

He knew very well that Emperor Jingning was a great ruler who reigned for more than sixty years, and Emperor Taishun was an iron-fisted emperor who finally won the "Nine Princes' Succession Struggle". The two emperors were intelligent and experienced, and had a keen understanding of people's hearts. How could they not see that his efforts to show filial piety had an element of affectation?

However, he felt that even if Emperor Jingning and Emperor Taishun saw through his act, the goodwill they felt towards the two emperors would definitely outweigh their dislike!
In the afterlife, fulfilling filial piety is an important responsibility and attitude, and can even be said to be a way of life.

Emperor Taishun had been trying to show filial piety to Emperor Jingning. Wasn't that just a pretense? Emperor Jingning, however, accepted it calmly and even seemed to enjoy it.

In fact, one reason why Yuan Li had previously won the favor of the two emperors was his efforts to demonstrate filial piety, even if it was somewhat affected. And one reason why Yuan Li was adept at this was due to the teachings of his birth mother, Consort Xi. Even with deliberate effort, his respectful demeanor and earnest affection were enough to win the emperor's favor.

Yuan Li has passed away, while Yuan Yi has returned to his ancestral home. Now, Yuan Yi is diligently demonstrating filial piety before the two emperors, seemingly unintentionally filling the void left by Yuan Li!

Just as Yuan Yi closed his eyes in deep thought, Yuan Chun, who was beside him, also remained silent. Her slender fingers unconsciously twirled her handkerchief, and she had other plans in mind.

The Empress Dowager's expectation of conceiving and giving birth to a son soon weighed heavily on her heart, a weighty expectation that was both an honor and an invisible pressure.

She and Yuan Yi had been married for over a year, but there was still no good news. In the past, she could take it easy, but now that her husband had returned to the imperial family and become a prince, the matter had become urgent.

The Empress Dowager's expectations, her husband's status, her own responsibilities... all these thoughts intertwined and entangled, making her mind wander.

Thus, within this magnificent yet tranquil carriage, the couple, each lost in their own thoughts—one pondering imperial strategies and the importance of filial piety, the other anxious about the continuation of their lineage and the family's prosperity—created an eerie silence where they remained undisturbed yet intimately connected. Only the sounds of people and horses could be heard outside the carriage.

Just then, He Yun walked to the carriage.

Yuan Yi snapped out of his daze, lifted the carriage curtain, and bright light instantly flooded into the carriage.

He Yun had changed out of his previous third-class guard uniform and was now wearing the uniform of a fourth-rank second-class guard. Although the uniform was similar to his previous one, he seemed to look exceptionally energetic.

He Yun bowed and clasped his hands in greeting to Yuan Yi inside the carriage, saying, "I am truly sorry to have troubled you and your wife to wait for so long. It is my fault."

Yuan Yi's gaze swept over his brand-new official robes, a smile playing on his lips. "It's alright, it didn't take long." He scrutinized him closely, his smile deepening. "It seems His Majesty has already issued a decree, promoting you to Second-Class Imperial Guard. Congratulations!"

He Yun hurriedly replied, "Thanks to Your Majesty's good fortune, His Majesty just summoned me and issued a decree to promote me to Second-Class Imperial Guard. He also earnestly instructed me to oversee the Empress's relocation to the mausoleum and ordered me to be extremely careful and thorough, without making any mistakes."

He didn't say anything more at that moment.

The curtain was lowered, and the carriage started moving.

Just as before, He Yun rode a tall horse to lead the way, followed by a troop of imperial guards and servants of the Jiang family, who escorted the prince's carriage in an orderly procession. They traveled along the official road in the western suburbs, winding their way back to the Ningguo Mansion in the capital city. The wheels rolled over the sun-baked yellow dirt road, raising a fine cloud of dust.

At the same time, Lin Ruhai was riding in a carriage, led by a mounted eunuch, traveling in opposite directions along the same western suburban road towards Changchun Garden.

Lin Ruhai was summoned by Emperor Taishun and immediately entered the garden to pay his respects.

The Emperor had made his decision and transferred him from a fourth-rank Grand Secretary to a fourth-rank Hanlin Academy Grand Secretary, appointing him to be in charge of teaching the newly returned Yuan Yi and to serve as the prince's tutor.

One group of carriages returned to the city from the garden, while another group sped towards the garden.

On this official road in the western suburbs that connects the royal palace to the heart of the empire, Yuan Yi and Lin Ruhai are drawn together by an invisible thread.

The sun was shining brightly, and the official road stretched far ahead.

……

……

At midday, under the blazing sun, Lin Ruhai returned to his residence in the western part of the capital from Changchun Garden.

Aunt Qiu, Lin Daiyu, and their maids Xiao Dan, Xiao Nan, and Zi Juan had been waiting for a long time.

Aunt Qiu personally served tea and asked softly, "His Majesty suddenly summoned you today. What is the reason for this?"

Lin Ruhai took the teacup, took a sip, and then said slowly, "His Majesty has made up his mind to transfer me from the position of Attendant Reader in the Inner Cabinet to the Hanlin Academy, while still holding the title of Attendant Reader, to be in charge of teaching the newly returned prince Yuan Yi, and to serve as the prince's tutor."

Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu were both overjoyed upon hearing this. Firstly, Lin Ruhai had received a new job; secondly, he was to become the tutor of the new prince, Yuan Yi!
Aunt Qiu and Lin Daiyu had already heard about Jiang Nian's return to the imperial family and his becoming Prince Yuan Yi. They were both shocked and delighted at the time.

At this moment, Aunt Qiu's face lit up with joy: "This is truly a wonderful thing! Master was already on good terms with Jiang... and that prince, and now that he is being instructed by imperial decree, it is even more legitimate, and their friendship will only deepen!"

She paused, then tentatively asked, "Now that you have received this imperial decree, shouldn't you come to the manor today to pay your respects to the prince?"

Lin Ruhai nodded: "That's exactly right. I had the same thought."

Aunt Qiu's eyes sparkled, her smile deepening, and she said with a hint of pleading, "Master... I wonder if I could come along? The former Lord Jiang has suddenly become a noble prince, and I am very curious about him. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay my respects to the princess consort and exchange courtesies."

Lin Ruhai doted on this understanding concubine. After a slight hesitation, he nodded and said, "Very well, you may come with me for a walk."

Lin Daiyu suddenly raised her head, her voice urgent: "Father, I want to go too."

Upon hearing this, both Lin Ruhai and Aunt Qiu turned to look at her.

Lin Daiyu felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by the two men, her face flushed, but she still insisted on looking at her father.

Aunt Qiu secretly pondered to herself, "This girl usually prefers quiet to movement and rarely goes out. Why is she being so proactive today?"

Xiao Nan and Zi Juan, who were standing in the hall, were filled with anticipation. They both really wanted to go! But they didn't dare to make a sound and just looked longingly at their masters.

Lin Ruhai looked at his daughter's determined gaze and nodded: "In that case, let's go together. But once we get there, we must be careful with our words and actions and not be impolite."

Lin Daiyu was delighted and nodded, "I understand."

(End of this chapter)