The Red Mansion

Chapter 266 The Imperial Edict is Issued, Alarming Jiangning

Issuing imperial edicts was a standard procedure for the Daqing court to announce its will to the world. All such edicts were delivered through the nationwide postal system, layer by layer, to ensure that all levels of government were aware of them.

Emperor Taishun's edict announcing Yuan Yi's return to the imperial clan and bestowing upon him the title of Duke of the County was among those issued openly.

However, although this edict was important, it was a routine official document, not as urgent as border reports or disaster warnings. Therefore, it was delivered at the usual speed of "immediate delivery," traveling 300 li per day, not 400 li urgent, not 600 li urgent, and certainly not 800 li urgent, which was only used for extremely urgent military and national affairs.

From Shenjing to Jiangning, the official road was a long and arduous journey of 2,400 li. This imperial edict, issued by the emperor, was sent from Shenjing to Jiangning. If we calculate 300 li per day, it would ideally take eight days to arrive. However, the post road was long and arduous, inevitably encountering wind and rain, bumpy roads, and rivers requiring boat crossings. In addition, the handover between each post station also took time, so the actual travel time was often longer than the theoretical estimate.

Emperor Taishun issued this edict on May 13th. A courier carrying the edict rushed to deliver it, and it wasn't until May 23rd that this edict, which carried the secrets of the imperial family and the supreme honor, finally arrived in Jiangning City, covered in dust and grime.

On that day, all the government offices, large and small, including the Governor-General's Office of Liangjiang, the Military Governor's Office of Jiangning, the Jiangning Textile Bureau, and the Prefect's Office of Jiangning, received this magnificent imperial edict from the capital.

When Governor-General Chen Bina of Liangjiang received the imperial edict, he was first taken aback, but then a sense of relief welled up inside him. He thought to himself, "Luckily, I had not offended this prince before, nor had I ever put on airs in front of him!"

Upon receiving the imperial edict, Tang Jina, the military governor of Jiangning, sighed inwardly, "Just as I thought! Nian-ge'er has finally returned to his ancestral home! And the speed of his return is even faster than I expected!" He had long known about Yuan Yi's background and was on good terms with him. At this moment, besides feeling emotional, he felt more gratified and fortunate.

He also received a secret edict from Emperor Taishun, instructing him to guard Jiang Xuelian's tomb at Niushou Mountain with utmost care and await the arrival of officials from the capital to handle the relocation of the remains. Naturally, he would not neglect this matter and would regard it as a crucial responsibility, ensuring that nothing went wrong.

When Zhen Yingjia, the Imperial Textile Commissioner of Jiangning, received the imperial edict, he was so terrified that he almost lost his soul. His face turned ashen, and his hands holding the edict trembled uncontrollably.

Eleven years ago, his arrogant attempt to seize Jiang Xuelian, relying on the power of the Zhen family, seemed like yesterday… Little did he know that the seemingly frail woman was actually the mother of a dragon descendant! Now, her son is a prince and a duke, and she has been posthumously honored as a concubine…

He was already worried about Emperor Taishun's crackdown on his Zhen family, and now with such a huge hidden danger, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, as if a great disaster was about to befall him.

When Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jiangning, received the imperial edict, he was also very surprised, but then he suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! No wonder he enjoys such great favor from the emperor at such a young age!"

Although he had repeatedly tried to curry favor with Yuan Yi but had always failed, a new plan immediately came to him: Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Mansion was the new prince's father-in-law, and he could befriend him; furthermore, the daughter of the Xue family of Jiangning was a concubine in the prince's household. Couldn't he use these two avenues to indirectly ingratiate himself with the new prince? He immediately began to devise a plan to be even more attentive to Jia Zheng and to cultivate a closer relationship with the Xue family…

The imperial edict, like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirred up ripples in Jiangning.

In fact, this imperial edict caused ripples all over the country.

……

……

At noon on May 23, the sun blazed down over Jiangning City, its rays intense and fiery.

Inside the main hall of the Xue family mansion, Aunt Xue felt waves of heat. However, this heat was not entirely due to the weather, but rather stemmed from an overwhelming sense of excitement and urgency.

She couldn't sit still, nor could she stand still; she just kept looking out of the hall.

Just about half an hour ago, Jia Yucun, the prefect of Jiangning, suddenly sent his trusted men to the Xue family, claiming to offer congratulations. He said that an imperial edict had been issued in the capital, announcing that Jiang Nian had been recognized as a prince of the current emperor and had been granted the title of Duke!
This news was so shocking that Aunt Xue was stunned for a long time. Overjoyed, she was also afraid that it was a rumor and her happiness would be in vain. She hurriedly sent her son Xue Pan to the government office to verify with Jia Yucun.

Just then, Aunt Xue was extremely anxious when she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps. She saw Xue Pan running in, covered in sweat and with a flushed face. Before he even arrived, his voice preceded his arrival. He was so excited that he danced around, shouting, "Mom! Mom! It's true! It's absolutely true!"

Aunt Xue hurriedly got up to ask, but Xue Pan couldn't wait to shout, "I just saw Grandfather Jia! He said it himself, the imperial edict has already reached the yamen! My brother-in-law Jiang is truly a prince, now a proper prince, and even a duke! Oh my! It's truly a blessing from our ancestors! Who could have imagined this day! It's all thanks to your son's sharp eyes that I saw my brother-in-law Jiang was no ordinary man, and insisted on marrying my sister to him! Mother, you used to think it was unfair to my sister, but look! Look! Now she's a concubine of a prince and a duke! What a stroke of luck! If my brother-in-law Jiang is made a king in the future, even if my sister doesn't become a queen, she'll definitely be a concubine! At that time, our Xue family will truly be..."

Although his words were mixed with boastful nonsense, Aunt Xue was so overwhelmed with joy that she didn't bother to discern the truth. She was ecstatic and clapped her hands repeatedly, saying, "I never expected this! It's truly a blessing from heaven! Our precious girl is so lucky! This is truly... truly..." She was so happy that she didn't know what to say.

The maids and servants standing in the flower hall looked at each other in surprise, and then stepped forward to offer their congratulations, filling the hall with a joyful atmosphere.

Aunt Xue was overjoyed for a while, then calmed herself down and asked Xue Pan a few questions. Seeing that Xue Pan was still calling him "brother-in-law Jiang" affectionately, she couldn't help but scold him, "Stop it! That's rude! How can you call him that now? He is a prince of the imperial family, bestowed with the name Yuan Yi by the emperor. You must be more respectful in the future and never lose your manners!"

After saying that, she hurriedly said to Xue Pan, "Go quickly and tell your uncle the good news. Also, ask your uncle to come over so we can discuss it properly."

The uncle she was referring to was naturally Xue Pan's uncle, Xue Jin.

Xue Pan was in high spirits and couldn't wait to spread the good news. Upon hearing his mother's instructions, he immediately responded loudly, turned around and rushed out of the flower hall, heading straight to his uncle Xue Jin's residence to deliver the message.

Aunt Xue watched her son's joyful figure disappear into the distance before sitting down again. Her heart was still pounding with emotion, and she began to ponder a question: Should the Xue family go to the capital again?

……

……

At noon, the sun blazed down, casting golden rays that caused the banana leaves in Xue Jin's house to curl up.

Inside the inner courtyard, in Xue Baoqin's room, a bamboo curtain hung down, slightly blocking out the summer heat.

Xue Baoqin was sitting at the desk, dressed in a lotus-colored summer dress, her hair slightly loose, holding a book of poems, quietly turning the pages.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on her serene profile, highlighting her snow-white skin and exquisite features. Her particularly captivating eyes, normally clear as autumn water, now rippled with emotion thanks to the lines of poetry.

She was reading a poem about swinging on a swing, and the poem read:
"The easel is adorned with two pieces of emerald green, and a beautiful woman plays in the spring before the small building."

Her blood-red skirt trailed on the ground, her beautiful face now gone.

The flower-patterned ceiling is damp with the rain of red apricot blossoms, and colorful ropes hang askew from the misty green willows. Standing serenely in this quiet spot, one might mistake it for a celestial being banished from the moon palace.

The words flowed gracefully, vividly depicting the beauty of the woman on the swing.

Xue Baoqin's gaze lingered on the poem, remaining fixed on it for a long time. The black words on the white paper gradually conjured up a vivid scene from more than a month ago.

The sun shone brightly at that time, shining on the swing set next to my cousin Baochai's old residence.

Jiang Nian stood behind her, smiling as she pushed the swing for her. The swing swung higher and higher, the wind whistling past her ears, her skirt fluttering, as if she were truly about to ride the wind away. Lost in the moment, she laughed heartily, but unexpectedly, she swayed and lost her balance, leaning backward. In an instant, before she could even cry out, Jiang Nian swiftly rushed to her side, one hand firmly catching the swaying swing rope, the other gently supporting her back, preventing her from losing her balance. As she regained her composure, she turned around abruptly, meeting Jiang Nian's concerned gaze so close to hers. Their breaths mingled, a wave of heat rising to her cheeks, and she blushed…

In the blink of an eye, more than a month has passed.

During this time, his image often appeared in her mind.

Upon seeing this poem praising the swing, the longing buried deep in her heart, like spring grass, began to grow and spread uncontrollably.

She gently put down the scroll of poems, biting her lower lip slightly, and thought to herself, "I suppose this is what the ancients meant by 'longing for someone'?"

Thinking of this, this feeling of longing inspired her to write poetry. She carefully prepared ink with her bare hands and spread out a sheet of paper. After a moment's hesitation, she picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and poured out her unspoken, tender feelings onto the paper. What she wrote was:
Memories of the Swing

A gentle breeze stirs the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the swing.

I remember when you were holding the rope, the sunlight moved with your sleeve.

Her skirt rippled with the color of rosy clouds, and laughter echoed across the jade steps.

Today I depart for the capital, but the distant shores of the Yangtze River are now lost to time.

I dare not ask the wild geese, I am left only to gaze upon the peach blossoms.

Springtime feelings gather like morning dew, and dusk lingers even longer.

The poem is beautiful and moving; between the lines, it is a young girl in love reminiscing and longing for the person far away in the capital.

It is truly remarkable that a young girl of her age could write such excellent poems.

In fact, Xue Baoqin in the original novel possessed first-rate poetic talent in the Grand View Garden, ranking among the top of all the young ladies. Upon arriving at the Rongguo Mansion, she immediately joined the Begonia Poetry Club, actively participating in activities such as "Impromptu Poetry Composition at Luxue Hermitage" and "Ode to Red Plum Blossoms." In these joint poems, she displayed quick wit and eloquence. Her poem "Ode to Red Plum Blossoms with the Character 'Flower'" and ten poems on historical themes were not only beautifully worded but also profound in their imagery.

At this moment, the sunlight outside the window is just right, and the cicadas are chirping loudly, but they cannot disturb the quiet world of longing inside the room.

The faint scent of ink mingled with the poem "Memories of the Swing," a piece that was just beginning to take shape on the manuscript and was brimming with heartfelt emotions.

Suddenly, light footsteps sounded outside the window, disturbing the tranquility of the room. Hearing the noise, Xue Baoqin quickly covered the manuscript, and then saw her mother, Madam Fan, smilingly lift the curtain and walk in.

Madam Fan was dressed in a simple light blue silk summer dress, her hair loosely tied in a bun with only a jade hairpin. Although she was over thirty years old, her face was gentle and she still retained her charm.

At this moment, Madam Fan's eyebrows and eyes were filled with barely suppressed joy. As soon as she entered, she said to her beloved daughter, "My son, I have some great news to tell you!"

Seeing her mother so happy, Xue Baoqin was surprised and got up to ask, "Mom, what's the good news? Why are you so happy?"

Madam Fan stepped forward, took her beloved daughter's hand, and said excitedly, "Your brother Pan came in a hurry just now! Guess what? It turns out that Lord Jiang Nian is actually the Emperor's child who was lost among the common people! Now the Emperor has issued an imperial edict to announce to the world that he has been recognized as a descendant of the Emperor, and has been given the imperial surname and given the name Yuan Yi, and has also been granted the title of Duke! He has truly become a carp that has leaped over the dragon gate!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baoqin froze, her bright eyes blinking repeatedly, seemingly unable to immediately process this earth-shattering news. After regaining her composure, she murmured, "Mom, is...is this true? Or is it just a rumor?"

Madam Fan laughed and said, "Silly child! Such an important matter cannot be taken lightly. Your elder brother Pan went to the government office to ask Grandfather Jia, and it is absolutely true! Your father has already gone with your elder brother Pan to see your aunt."

She was truly overjoyed. Recalling how her husband, Xue Jin, had insisted on giving their precious daughter to Jiang Nian as a concubine, she had felt heartbroken and secretly shed countless tears, feeling she had wronged her daughter. She never imagined that Jiang Nian would have such a distinguished background! Although her daughter would still be a concubine, she would be the concubine of a prince and a duke. As a mother, she felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart; how could she not be overjoyed?

After her initial shock, Xue Baoqin was overwhelmed with an indescribable excitement. When her father had betrothed her to Jiang Nian as a concubine, although she was sensible and said that marriage was a matter for her parents to decide, she didn't resent it and thought that being able to be with her sister Baochai wasn't a bad thing, she still harbored a sliver of unspeakable grievance and resentment. Later, as she spent time with Jiang Nian, she found him to be exceptionally dignified, considerate, and gentle, and that grievance gradually melted away. Now, hearing that he was actually a prince, the last vestige of resentment vanished instantly, leaving only boundless amazement and joy.

Mrs. Fan chatted happily with her daughter for a few more minutes before leaving with light steps.

The room returned to tranquility.

Xue Baoqin sat back down at her desk, staring blankly at the poem "Remembering the Swing" she had just written. The ink on the manuscript was still wet, yet each word and phrase seemed to have been infused with new meaning. The person she remembered in the poem was no longer the mysterious imperial envoy Jiang Nian, but the incomparably noble Prince Yuan Yi and the Duke.

The thrill of grabbing onto the swing set that day, the excitement of our eyes meeting—looking back now, it feels both like a distant memory and incredibly clear.

A more intense and urgent longing swept over her.

She gently stroked the verses and handwriting on the manuscript, silently thinking to herself, "I wonder when... I'll be able to see him again?"

Once this thought arose, it was like spring vines entwining around me.

She really wanted to see him as soon as possible...

(End of this chapter)