The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 24: Gifts Given by Imperial Order
After a night of rain, the air in the capital was fresh and the whole city was exceptionally clean after being washed by the rain.

A large carriage was parked outside the mansion.

Li San asked the servants to carry boxes and cages out of the door.

Soon, the cart was piled high.

Li Hu came out, looked around the carriage, nodded and jumped on it, then pulled out the whip and raised it to swing it, when Li San came over and said, "Second Master, let Daniu and the others accompany you."

“Just two streets.”

Li Hu tapped the horse's buttocks with the whip and shouted in a low voice: "Go!"

The horse pulled the cart slowly towards Ningrong Street.

Ever since he was granted the marriage, Li Hu had been prepared to deal with the Jia family, but he did not expect it to happen so soon.

One has to admire the Emperor Yongchang's imperial mind. He gave the Jia family two sweet treats after giving them two slaps. The outer court and the harem were all rewarded, which not only gave the Jia family hope, but also gave the four princes and eight dukes a reassurance.

Li Hu understood that he was also part of Emperor Yongchang's plan. Although Emperor Yongchang did not say it explicitly, he knew that the other gift was sent on behalf of the Lin family.

In this case, Li Hu had to make clear his relationship with the Lin family on the visiting card.

This visiting card will be sent to Jia Zheng immediately. Given Jia Zheng's character, he will definitely send Jia Lian to meet Li Hu personally.

With so many people in the Jia family today, there will definitely be people who want to know the news.

Whether Li Hu is willing or not, he will be involved in the internal disputes of the four kings and eight dukes, because the emperor will not allow him to stay out of it.

Perhaps at the moment he decided to grant the marriage, the emperor had already thought about how to weaken the power of the four kings and eight dukes.

Compared to being cheated, Li Hu feels more sorry for the money.

I just received 100 taels of gold from Lin Ruhai yesterday, and today I spent 3,000 or 4,000 taels.

There is no way. Li Hu can be shameless, but he cannot lose face for Lin Ruhai and his wife. The gift must be substantial enough.

In addition to feeling sorry for the money, Li Hu had another headache. According to the rules, he had to pay his respects to Jia Mu, his future grandmother, and he had to kowtow to her.

Suddenly, the earth-shaking sound of firecrackers came from Ningrong Street.

The banquet starts so early?

Li Hu flicked the whip and the carriage drove quickly towards Ningrong Street.

The whole street was hung with big red lanterns and tied with big red ribbons.

There were even buffets set up on Ningrong Street, and a Su Kun troupe was performing, which was quite lively.

Li Hu shook his head: "Too ostentatious!"

In front of the Rongguo Mansion, there was a long line of carriages and sedan chairs parked.

The butler hurriedly reported loudly:

"Congratulations from Mr. Qin of the Ministry of Works and Construction."

"The congratulatory gift from the Prince of Xining has arrived"

Old friends, relatives, and officials of all ranks came to congratulate Jia Zheng on his promotion. It was mainly for the sake of the palace's reputation, because the emperor was also a filial son.

At this time, Jia Zheng was sitting in a chair by the window in the outer study, coughing.

Jia She and Jia Zhen were also there, sitting on chairs, but they didn't say a word.

Jia Zheng took a breath, looked at Jia She, and then looked at Jia Zhen: "Too ostentatious."

Jia She glanced at him and said nothing.

Jia Zhen smiled bitterly. If he didn't show off, the Jia family would decline faster.

Jia Zheng continued, "On my way back from thanking the emperor yesterday, I ran into Xie Jing, the grandson of Marquis Dingcheng, the hereditary second-rank male and the guerrilla commander of the Beijing Camp. He was also on his way to the palace to thank the emperor."

Jia Zhen was shocked and asked anxiously, "Did he get promoted?"

Jia She leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Jia Zheng nodded and said, "The lieutenant general of the left patrol of the Fifth Army Camp is in charge of the military affairs of the Vanguard Camp. Not only him, but many others have been promoted." At this point, he sighed deeply, "Except for the imperial examination, the Jia family has no other way out."

Jia She closed his eyes: "Baoyu?"

Jia Zheng had already thought about it, and whispered: "Although this child is very naughty, he is very smart. Push him and try to get him to pass the examination before Ru Hai returns to Beijing to take up his post."

Jia She still closed his eyes: "A closer relationship?"

Jia Zheng: "That's right. With Ru Hai's advice, it will be easy for him to pass the imperial examination. With the status of a juren, even if he fails to pass the imperial examination, he can still find a way to become a county magistrate. With the remaining connections of the Jia family and Ru Hai's care, I believe..."

"It's too late!" Jia She finally opened his eyes.

At this time, Jia Lian rushed in like a gust of wind, raised the visiting card in his hand, and said breathlessly: "Li, Li Hu is here." Jia Zheng stood up: "Why is he here?"

Jia Zhen also stood up.

Jia She was still sitting there, his eyes fixed on the visiting card in Jia Lian's hand.

Jia Lian swallowed his saliva and said, "The emperor has granted marriage to Li Hu and the daughter of my aunt in Yangzhou."

Jia Zheng snatched the visiting card and Jia Zhen also leaned over.

Jia She sighed. Apart from Lady Jia, he was the only one who knew about this matter.

Jia Zheng suddenly started coughing violently.

Jia Zhen quickly patted him on the back.

Jia Zheng seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and said in a tone of infinite sadness: "Heaven does not bless the Jia family."

Jia She sighed softly and murmured, "A blessing in disguise."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian all looked at him.

Jia She closed his eyes, stood up and said, "He came here on the orders of the emperor." Then he walked out.

Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian all looked shocked.

"The son-in-law is a distinguished guest. Go and welcome him." Jia She's voice came from outside the door.

Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian hurriedly followed him out.

Unlike the bustling Rongguo Mansion, the Qianqing Palace was deathly silent.

The director of the Imperial Observatory was kneeling outside the upper study.

"I am asking you one last time."

Dai Quan's voice came from the stone steps, "Why didn't the Imperial Observatory report the prediction of a possible locust plague in Shaanxi?"

The director of the Imperial Observatory closed his eyes and slumped over, his head pressed against the brick floor.

This was a firm statement. A cold light immediately flashed in Dai Quan's eyes and he waved his hand.

Two red-robed eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department immediately pounced on him like wolves and tigers, skillfully stripped off his hat, belt and robe, then twisted his wrists, inserted their arms into his arms, tightened them, and dragged him out.

Dai Quan snorted, "Beat him to death!"

Another eunuch in red from the Imperial Household Department replied: “Yes!” and hurriedly chased after him.

Dai Quan glanced in the direction of Daming Palace, then turned and entered the study.

Emperor Yongchang sat in front of the imperial desk with a gloomy face, looking at Dai Quan who walked in.

Dai Quan was silent for a moment, then said, "I am incompetent."

Emperor Yongchang grabbed a pile of memorials on the imperial desk and threw them hard on the ground. He found that there were still a few that had not been thrown away, so he picked them up again and threw them down!

Li Hu repaid evil with kindness by telling the prince about the possible locust plague in Shaanxi.

The prince told the emperor the matter again.

Emperor Yongchang didn't believe it at the time and said that Li Hu, a military man, knew nothing.

However, the slap in the face came quickly. People from the Imperial Household Department brought a memorial from the Imperial Observatory stating that there might be a locust plague in Shaanxi between spring and summer this year.

The question book should have been submitted to the upper study room half a month ago.

Dai Quan glanced at the angry Emperor Yongchang sitting on the dragon throne, then bent down and silently picked up the memorials one by one.

Emperor Yongchang looked at him and asked, "Why are you all coming to force me?"

Dai Quan put the memorial on the imperial desk and said: "The locust plague has not yet broken out, so it is still not too late to immediately appoint officials to fill the vacancies."

Emperor Yongchang sighed and said, "There are so many civil servants in the court who are both successful candidates in the imperial examinations. Who doesn't know this better than Li Hu? But no one warned me in advance! They are all waiting to see me make a fool of myself! Aren't they worried about chaos in Shaanxi?"

Dai Quan lowered his head. Perhaps this was exactly what they wanted, but he didn't dare say it.

"Don't they want to see me make a fool of myself? I won't let them have their way!"

A surge of pride came over him, and Emperor Yongchang sat up straight, his eyes sparkling as he looked directly at Dai Quan: "Call the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the Fourth Prince to the study to discuss the locust plague."

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

"And Li Hu." Emperor Yongchang added.

(End of this chapter)