newbobooks Chapter 180 Lin Daiyu's younger brother in Dream of the Red Chamber 13
Chapter 180 Lin Daiyu's younger brother in Dream of the Red Chamber 13
Jia Yuanchun was arranged to return home to visit her family on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. The Rongguo Mansion did not celebrate the New Year properly this year, and none of the grand occasions that were arranged in previous years were held.
The reason why the Jia family didn't borrow money from the Lin family to build the villa for the imperial visit was mainly because the Jia family still had some wealth. Secondly, the Zhen family contributed some money. In addition, the imperial visit was a grand occasion, and it was important to prevent the news from spreading that the Jia family needed to borrow money to build the villa. Therefore, Grandmother Jia strictly kept the news under wraps and even took out most of her dowry.
The Rongguo Mansion didn't say anything, and the Lin family naturally pretended not to know either.
On the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the masters of Rongguo Mansion and Ningguo Mansion got up to dress up. Grandmother Jia of Rongguo Mansion invited the Lin family to be guests, but Lin Ruhai refused, after all, Lin Ruhai guessed the Emperor's intentions.
Jia She led his men to line up on the right side of Ningrong Street, while Grandmother Jia led her men to line up on the right side of Rongguo Mansion.
After waiting for almost an hour, an old eunuch rode up to Grandmother Jia and said, "Grandmother, Her Majesty had her dinner at 1:15 PM, went to Baoling Palace to worship Buddha at 1:25 PM, and went to Daming Palace to receive a banquet and request imperial decree at 1:15 PM. I'm afraid she won't be able to get up until 1:15 PM."
Grandmother Jia nodded slightly and replied, "It's too early to say that." Grandmother Jia hasn't blamed the Emperor yet? That's the only way to put it.
The father-in-law replied, "Yes."
Grandmother Jia quickly replied, "Please come in and have some tea, sir."
A servant came up and led the old man to rest.
After the eunuch entered the Rongguo Mansion, Grandmother Jia, supported by Madam Xing and Madam Wang, went down to rest.
As the sun gradually set, Jia Yuanchun's entourage still hadn't arrived. Everyone returned to their previous positions, not daring to say a word, their faces revealing their exhaustion.
A round of clapping sounded, and everyone straightened their clothes. The eunuchs lined up to clap their hands. Suddenly, the music of ceremonial procession began to play. Grandmother Jia and the others realized that Jia Yuanchun's ceremonial procession had appeared before them.
Grandmother Jia smiled, looking with satisfaction at Jia Yuanchun's entourage. Since the passing of their patriarch, the Jia family had never had such a grand spectacle.
Attended by palace maids, Jia Yuanchun first changed her clothes and then went boating on the lake.
The lanterns on the lake were dazzling and lifelike. Jia Yuanchun stood at the bow of the boat, admiring the beautiful scenery, and even changed the name of the lake from "Liaoting Huaxu" to "Huaxu".
Upon reaching the shore, following the brightly lit corridor, which led to the "Heavenly Paradise," Jia Yuanchun immediately felt uneasy. She quickly shook her head and said, "This is too ostentatious. Let's move to the Provincial Villa instead."
"According to the order."
Upon entering the hall, finding no plaque, Jia Yuanchun inquired, "Why is there no plaque in this hall?"
"Your Highness, this is the main hall, and I, your humble servant, dare not make any designation without authorization."
After Jia Yuanchun enjoyed the fireworks and firecrackers, the real main moment arrived, and people outside came to see Jia Yuanchun according to their rank.
When Jia Yuanchun saw Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, tears streamed down her face. She had suffered so much. The Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus were locked in a power struggle, and she, a weak woman, was caught in the middle, unable to show any dissatisfaction. The Emperor did not favor her.
She looked at the women of the Jia family, and their faces were all full of joy, as if her being made a concubine was a great joy.
"Grandmother, please accept my bow."
Grandmother Jia, Madam Xing, Madam Wang, and others immediately knelt down lower than Jia Yuanchun. Jia Yuanchun's grievances suddenly erupted, and she said some inappropriate things, then hugged Grandmother Jia and Madam Wang and cried.
A palace maid reminded Jia Yuanchun to return to her seat. Jia Yuanchun, accustomed to this, put on a polite smile and sat down in her seat like a mannequin.
It was as if she was still that dignified and virtuous concubine, not the pitiful person crying in Jia Mu's arms and Wang Furen's arms.
Liu Gonggong, who was outside, said, "All the servants and maids of the two mansions must pay their respects to the Empress."
Jia Yuanchun said, "No."
Seemingly remembering something, she turned to Grandmother Jia and asked, "Where are Aunt Xue, Baochai, and Daiyu?"
Grandmother Jia said respectfully, "Without permission, relatives from outside the family dare not enter. Daiyu is unwell and has not come over."
When Jia Yuanchun heard that Lin Daiyu hadn't come, a slight sense of disappointment welled up in her heart, but she didn't dare to underestimate the Lin family. Without showing any emotion, she said, "Please come in quickly."
Then Jia Yuanchun replied gracefully, "Wait a moment, prepare some ginseng and send it to Daiyu, instructing her to take good care of her health."
Grandmother Jia replied, "Yes."
As the two were talking, Aunt Xue led Xue Baochai in through a side door, slowly walked up to Jia Yuanchun, and performed a deep bow.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Jia Yuanchun came down and helped Aunt Xue up. Then Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai stood next to the three sisters and Li Wan.
Led by the people outside, they slowly walked to stand behind the gauze curtain. Jia Zheng stood at the front and said, "Your subject greets Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."
When Jia Yuanchun saw her father bowing to her through the gauze curtain, she realized that everything was different. She suddenly said, "In ordinary families, even though they live in thatched huts and eat simple meals, the whole family can often enjoy the happiness of family reunion. Although we are extremely wealthy now, we are separated from our loved ones. Thinking about it, it is not very interesting."
After saying this, Jia Yuanchun's voice was choked with sobs. She had thought that visiting her mother's family would be a day for reunion, but she never expected that after spending so much money, she wouldn't even be able to see them.
As a subject, how could Jia Zheng allow the Empress to complain? If the Empress was unhappy, it must be the subject's fault.
Jia Zheng said without changing his expression: "Among my humble and uncultured family, how could I have expected to receive such auspicious fortune as the phoenix and the dragon? Your Highness, please do not worry about the regrets of my husband and me. Please cherish yourself even more and serve Your Majesty with utmost diligence, caution, and respect. I will not fail Your Majesty's kind and loving kindness."
It was nothing more than Jia Yuanchun saying some complaints. Jia Zheng felt that Jia Yuanchun had said something wrong and was trying to make amends for her. Moreover, there was a difference between the emperor and his subjects, so Jia Zheng could only advise Jia Yuanchun to serve the emperor well.
Jia Yuanchun also realized what was happening and calmly said, "I hope Father will prioritize national affairs, take good care of himself in his spare time, and not worry about me."
The palace maids and eunuchs around her were always watching her behavior, and Jia Yuanchun felt the oppression of life.
Jia Zheng bowed and said respectfully, "Your subject obeys the decree. All the pavilions and halls in the garden were named by Baoyu. If there are any that are even slightly pleasing to the eye, please bestow upon them other names."
After saying this, Jia Zheng slowly led his men out.
Jia Yuanchun then thought of Jia Baoyu and turned her head to ask, "Baoyu, where is he?"
Following protocol, Grandmother Jia said, "Without imperial decree, no outside man may enter without permission."
Jia Yuanchun instructed her servants to summon Jia Baoyu in.
Jia Baoyu had grown up and was now fourteen years old. He respectfully bowed to Jia Yuanchun.
Jia Yuanchun spoke directly: "Brother, come here."
The gauze curtain blocking their view was finally lifted, and Jia Yuanchun got down from her seat, walked to Jia Baoyu's side, pulled him to a seat, and the two sat down together. Only then did Jia Yuanchun show a genuine smile.
When it was time for the next activity, Jia Yuanchun walked in front, and the group began to stroll through the garden and compose poems.