The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 53 Rongguo Mansion 1
On the other side, in the western warm room of Yuqing Palace, there was a large pot of silver frost charcoal with green flames.

The prince was lying on a recliner under the south window with his eyes closed, a thin quilt covering him.

There were a few pieces of paper scattered on the low table next to him.

If you look closely, you can vaguely see that the paper records Jia Yucun's resume, test scores, promotions, transfers, etc.

This is the Jiali file that the prince transferred from the Ministry of Personnel, which is the personnel file.

Zhao Tong, the eunuch in charge of Yuqing Palace, walked in and said softly, "Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince is here."

The prince opened his eyes and said, "Please come in."

Zhao Tong: “Yes.” and walked out.

After a while, the Fourth Prince tiptoed in and bowed in front of the Crown Prince, "I pay my respects to you, my dear brother."

The Crown Prince looked deeply at the Fourth Prince, and after a long while he said softly, "Ability is gained through hard work and practice. Praying to the gods and Buddhas is just a comfort in your heart. Don't mess around anymore."

The fourth prince scratched his head and said, "I have never been able to study since I was a child, and I don't know anything about the court. I am really worried that I will not be able to handle the work of the Ministry of Rites well, and I am afraid that I will cause trouble for my father and the eldest brother, the crown prince, so I went to the Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, and perform rituals."

"You~"

The prince shook his head. "If you really don't want to do that, you can recruit a few disciples to help you. Look at your second brother. With the advice of his disciples, he has provided disaster relief to the people, quelled the rebellion and stopped the war. The situation in northern Shaanxi has basically been stabilized."

The fourth prince smiled bitterly and said, "I lost my mother when I was young, and my father is busy with a cough. Apart from a few monks in the Daxiangguo Temple, I have never had contact with outsiders. Where can I find help?" At this point, he looked at the crown prince, "How about, crown prince, help me find one or two people to help me in the Ministry of Rites?"

The prince smiled and said, "On this point, we brothers have the same idea. Li Hu recommended a man to me, and I plan to send him to be your Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

The fourth prince was stunned and asked, "Who?"

The prince sat up straight and handed him the pieces of paper.

The Fourth Prince took it with both hands and went to the window to look at each one carefully.

The Crown Prince sat quietly, occasionally glancing at the Fourth Prince who was looking at Jiali carefully.

After reading the last page, the Fourth Prince stood there in a daze.

Prince: "How is it?"

The fourth prince came back to his senses and said: "The people sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must be good."

The prince said: "Yes. In a few days, all government offices will be sealed. You should quickly provide your father with a guarantee for the capital."

The fourth prince was shocked when he heard this. He remained silent on the surface, but was shocked in his heart: What a prince, he planted spies around me and asked me to recommend him and take the responsibility. He took all the benefits. In addition, my father asked me to go to the Ministry of Rites after the new year. What would my father think of me interfering in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites before I took office? What would the officials of the Ministry of Rites think? Is he suspicious of me?
Prince: "What? Is there any difficulty?"

The fourth prince smiled and said, "What's the difficulty? I will guarantee the capital for my father right away."

The prince looked at him and said, "I raised you with my own hands. The relationship between us brothers is second to none. I will never treat you unfairly in the future."

The fourth prince showed surprise and said, "Then I would like to thank you in advance." Then he bowed again.

The prince nodded with satisfaction.

The Fourth Prince: "I'll take my leave now." After saying that, he walked out.

Looking at the Fourth Prince's disappearing back, the Crown Prince's face darkened and he thought to himself: This kid has also got some little ideas!

After seeing off the Fourth Prince, Zhao Tong returned to the West Warm Pavilion and saw the Crown Prince lying on a recliner. He went to the recliner and gently massaged his legs.

The prince still closed his eyes: "What's the matter?"

Zhao Tong replied in a low voice: "The Third Prince has made friends with several candidates who will take part in the next spring imperial examination."

Prince: "Do you know their identities?"

Zhao Tong: "I am arranging people to investigate."

"Check it slowly."

The prince opened his eyes and said, "Let Li Hu bring the person here tomorrow."

Zhao Tong: "General Li will go to Rongguo Mansion to apologize tomorrow"

The prince then remembered, smiled, and asked, "Do you know where Jia Yucun lives?"

Zhao Tong: "General Li has confessed everything." The Crown Prince: "Leave the palace now and bring Jia Yucun here."

"Yes." Zhao Tong stood up, bowed and walked out.

The weather was still good on the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the soft sunshine filled Ningrong Street.

The snow on the streets had been cleared away long ago, the main gate of Rongguo Mansion was wide open, and people were standing in front of the gate.

The main gate of the Duke's Mansion, Rongguo Mansion, can only be opened when there are important events, such as the weddings, funerals, important festivals, the arrival of an imperial edict, or the visit of an important guest. Not everyone can enter.

Logically speaking, a lieutenant general of the Beijing camp was not worthy of being welcomed at the Rongguo Mansion's main gate, but Li Hu's identity was different. He was also the son-in-law of the Rongguo Mansion's granddaughter, and it was his first time to visit in an official capacity.

Jia Zheng and Jia She discussed it and decided to open the main gate to welcome them.

In the center are the Jia family members headed by Jia Lian, including Jia Rong and Jia Yun, and on both sides are the managers of the Ning and Rong mansions.

At this time, Jia Zhen came over from Ningguo Mansion and stopped in front of everyone. Then he was slightly startled and looked at Jia Lian: "Where is Baoyu?"

Jia Lian answered in a low voice: "He went to the temple to fulfill his vow early in the morning and has not returned yet."

Jia Zhen frowned, "Doesn't he know that guests are coming?"

Jia Lian paused and said, "Madam knows."

Jia Zhen had nothing else to say, so he left a sentence "Don't be rude" and walked into the gate.

Jia Lian smiled bitterly and shook his head. He was badly hurt by Li Hu. Although Li Hu's words helped him escape the punishment of Jia Mu and Jia She, they brought him another disaster.

Jia Zheng found out about this and slapped Jia Baoyu who was coming to pay his respects. Although it was not serious, it still made Jia Mu and Wang Furen very distressed. They could not say anything to Jia Zheng, and they could not offend Li Hu, so all their anger fell on him.

A steward said with sharp eyes: "Look, here they come, here they come!"

A troop of cavalry appeared at the corner of the street, and all eyes turned over.

Then a group of cavalry appeared, followed by a large sedan chair, two small sedan chairs, and a carriage.

Li Hu rode a horse and led more than ten cavalrymen to protect Lin Daiyu's sedan chair.

The two houses were only two streets apart, so they did not choose a carriage because it was too big and inconvenient to get in and out.

Li Hu pulled the reins.

The whole group stopped.

Jia Lian led the Jia family members to meet them.

Li Hu dismounted, threw away the reins, and walked towards Jia Lian and others who were coming to greet him.

Jia Lian clasped his hands and said, "General Li."

Li Hu bowed in return: "I am sorry to have kept Master Lian waiting for so long!"

Jia Lian smiled and said, "My son-in-law is an honored guest, so it is only right that he should wait a long time."

Jia Rong, Jia Yun and others bowed and saluted: "General, pay your respects to General Li."

Li Hu nodded with a smile: "Don't be polite."

Jia Lian: "My father asked me to pay my respects to General Li again. Today is a family ceremony. They are elders and cannot greet them. I have asked General Li to go to Rongxi Hall to meet them."

Li Hu: "That makes sense."

Jia Lian said to Jia Rong and Jia Yun, "Please invite General Wang and others to the other courtyard to host a banquet for us."

Jia Rong and Jia Yun answered, "Yes."

Jia Lian said to Li Hu again: "General Li, please come in!" Then he extended his hand and walked in with Li Hu.

Jia Rong, Jia Yun and others led Wang Daniu and others towards the side door of the east courtyard.

Three sedan chairs were carried into the middle gate and the west corner gate respectively.

(End of this chapter)