Entering with Head High

After the episode of the salt smugglers hijacking the ship, the journey north was uneventful.

On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, a thousand sails competed for beauty outside the Dongbian Gate, and pleasure boats were woven like silk on the Datong Bridge.

The Jia family's arrogant servants had long since unfurled the hereditary Rongguo Mansion's imperial banner, rampaging across the river like dumplings being thrown into a pot, truly outrageous.

Although Sun Shaozong and Jia Yucun both felt that being so ostentatious under the emperor's feet was inappropriate, Jia Lian had been away from the Capital for nearly a year. Now that he had finally returned, how could he possibly remember how to write the word 'low-key'?

The two of them subtly advised him a few times, but seeing that he seemed not to hear, only caring about striking poses at the bow of the boat, they were too lazy to bother him.

Before long, the passenger ship docked at the pier. Before the dockworkers could set up the gangplank, they heard someone on the shore shouting and jumping, "Second Master, Second Master! You've finally returned!"

Jia Lian poked his head out of the boat and laughed, "Bao Er, so it's you, you dog!"

As he spoke, seeing that the gangplank was already set up, he took the lead without hesitation.

Sun Shaozong and Jia Yucun politely declined each other a few times, then disembarked third. They were originally wondering whether to hitch a ride on the Jia family's carriage into the city, or simply part ways here and find another way to return to their residences.

"Second Master!"

Suddenly, a person rushed forward, grabbed his arm, and burst into tears, "Why didn't you answer your old servant? This old servant has been waiting here for more than half a month, and finally, I've waited for you to return, Second Master!"

Only then did Sun Shaozong realize that those few calls of 'Second Master' were actually meant for him.

He quickly took a closer look and saw that this person, who called himself 'old servant,' was about fifty years old. Although his hair was already gray, his build was quite strong and burly, only half a head shorter than himself.

After searching his memory, Sun Shaozong immediately remembered the identity of the person—Wei Licai, the old steward of the Sun residence.

When the Sun family fell into decline, all the servants were scattered, but this Feng Wei Licai stayed with them, enduring seven or eight years of hardship with the Sun brothers. Therefore, although they were master and servant in name, they were no different from family in reality.

"Uncle Wei!"

Remembering this, Sun Shaozong naturally did not dare to neglect him. He quickly supported Wei Licai, feigning anger, "How could I let you wait for me here in this cold weather? Where are those little rascals at home? Are they all rebelling?!"

A young servant beside him quickly explained, "Second Master, it's not that we don't understand the rules, it's just that..."

"It was this old servant who wanted to be the first to see Second Master, so I insisted on this errand." The old steward said, while looking Sun Shaozong up and down. After a long while, he tsk tsk praised, "Not seeing you for more than a year, Second Master has become even more handsome!"

Sun Shaozong was speechless upon hearing this. With his sturdy build, no matter how you described him, it probably had nothing to do with the word 'handsome,' right?

It was said that Jia Lian had originally intended to give Sun Shaozong a ride, but seeing that he also had family waiting for him here, he didn't bother anymore. He only told Sun Shaozong not to forget to visit the Jia family to talk to him after he had settled down at home.

Jia Yucun naturally didn't need to be told; he was definitely going to stay at the Jia family temporarily.

So the three of them bid each other farewell inside the Dongbian Gate, then took their female companions and luggage into the carriages, each heading to Rongguo Mansion and the Sun residence.

Because the Sun residence had sent two carriages, Sun Shaozong gave one of them to Feng Xin, asking the young servant to send him home first, then pull the luggage back to the residence.

Not mentioning Feng Xin's situation.

It was said that Sun Shaozong brought Ruan Rong into the carriage, originally wondering how to introduce her to the old steward. Who knew that Wei Licai would act as if he hadn't seen Ruan Rong at all, not even asking a question, which made him waste some effort.

The carriage passed through the Dongbian Gate, passed the Chaoyang Gate, and entered the inner city. It continued northwest, and seeing that they were not far from the Sun residence, Sun Shaozong was trying hard to recall the situation at home, so as not to make any jokes when the time came. Suddenly, he felt a sweaty little hand gripping his wrist.

Looking up, he saw Ruan Rong with a worried look on her face, completely lacking her usual heroic and unrestrained demeanor.

"Don't worry."

Sun Shaozong quickly said, "I only have one older brother at home, and no parents in the hall. I can make most of the decisions about marriage myself!"

That's what he said, but these days, the emphasis is on 'the eldest brother is like a father,' especially since Sun Shaozong had grown up with his brother since childhood. If Sun Shaozu didn't nod in agreement, how could Ruan Rong marry into the Sun family with peace of mind?

Just not wanting him to worry along with her, Ruan Rong forced a smile and said, "Of course I trust you," then fell silent again.

Hoo~

Before long, they heard Wei Licai halt the old horse and shout with a full voice, "Quickly open the main gate, the Second Master has returned!"

These days, the main gate is usually just for show, and people usually enter and exit through the side doors. Only when there are major events or when welcoming distinguished guests will the main gate be specially opened—like when Lin Daiyu first entered Rongguo Mansion, she went through the side door.

Seeing the Vermillion Gate creak open to the sides, Sun Shaozong's heart stirred. Without saying a word, he pulled Ruan Rong out of the carriage and, without waiting for the servants to greet them, headed straight inside.

But this time, Wei Licai didn't dare pretend he didn't see them. He hurried forward a few steps and blocked Sun Shaozong's path, smiling at Ruan Rong, "Please, miss, return to the carriage first. Let this old servant call out a couple of matrons to escort you to the back to rest, lest you be bumped into by the rascals in the mansion."

Every word he said was for Ruan Rong's own good.

But the real reason was: except for brides being brought into the house, women are generally not allowed to enter or exit through the main gate—concubines and such can only be carried in through the side or back doors to get married.

Sun Shaozong taking Ruan Rong across this threshold together was also a disguised declaration of her status as the mistress of the house.

At first, Ruan Rong didn't understand what was going on, but Wei Butler's obstruction made her suddenly realize. She looked at Wei Butler, who wouldn't budge an inch, and then at Sun Shaozong, whose face had darkened. She bit her silver teeth slightly and said decisively, "Brother Sun, I'd better go back to the carriage first..."

"Back to the carriage for what!"

Sun Shaozong scolded, looking at the old butler and saying, "Uncle Wei, if it weren't for Rong'er's help, I'm afraid I would have been lost in Qian Xiang Country, not to mention her unwavering loyalty along the way—we two have long been engaged for life. Since she will be the mistress of this house sooner or later, what does it matter if she walks through the main gate once in advance?"

As he spoke, he took half a step forward and, with just a gentle nudge of his shoulder, pushed Wei Butler to the side. Then, he pulled Ruan Rong and walked inside.

"Second Master!"

Seeing that the two were about to cross the threshold, Wei Licai couldn't care less and shouted, "The rules were set down during the reign of the Great Ancestor that military generals are not allowed to marry foreign women as wives. Those who violate the order will be stripped of their official positions and become commoners!"

Da Zhou actually had such a rule?

Thinking about it, it made sense. At the beginning of Emperor Zhou's founding of the country, he had just driven out the 'Mongol Yuan' and restored Han rule. It was a time of high national sentiment, so setting such a rule was not excessive.

Sun Shaozong paused upon hearing this, and Ruan Rong's face changed drastically. She then struggled desperately, her eyes filled with tears, and she tried to persuade him, "Brother Sun, as long as I can be with you, Rong'er is already content. You must not..."

If she hadn't tried to dissuade him, Sun Shaozong might have hesitated slightly, but this persuasion aroused Sun Shaozong's temper. So, without saying anything, he reached out and pushed aside the old butler, pulling Ruan Rong and striding in!

After crossing the threshold, Sun Shaozong stopped again, looked at Ruan Rong, who was already in tears, and laughed, "Why are you crying? If military generals can't marry, I'll just become a civil official—when I have an audience with the Emperor, I'll first ask to become a civil official, and then marry you!"

He wasn't just spouting nonsense to fool Ruan Rong.

At the beginning of Da Zhou's founding, in order to avoid repeating the disaster of the imbalance between civil and military affairs of the two Song dynasties, a rule was specially established: after each imperial examination, a group of scholars would be selected from the Jinshi graduates to serve in the military; and a group of martial artists who were well-versed in writing would be selected from the Wu Jinshi graduates to serve as local officials.

Unfortunately, this rule failed to reverse the inertia of history.

After decades of peace in the world, the civil official group gradually suppressed the noble families, and the bad habit of valuing civil affairs and belittling military affairs became prevalent again.

Therefore, to this day, although this rule still seems to be in effect on the surface, it has long been changed beyond recognition.

On the civil Jinshi side, only the unlucky ones from the Tong Jinshi would be kicked to the military for training, and they would all be promoted to sixth-rank positions without exception.

Among the Wu Jinshi, only the top scholar, second place, and third place of the first class, as well as the top twelve of the second class, were qualified to transfer to civil positions. When transferring, they often had to be demoted by two to four levels, and then wait for a vacancy as a Tong Jinshi—and they couldn't be appointed as regular officials like county magistrates, but could only assist the civil Jinshi.

Not only that, but after taking office, the Wu Jinshi had to endure the exclusion of the regular civil officials, and would be impeached if they were not careful.

But even so, the Wu Jinshi were still eager to transfer to civil positions.

And Sun Shaozong, was precisely the fifth place in the second class of martial Jinshi in the eighth year of Guangde—otherwise, with his young age and without inheriting any noble title, how could he have become a substantive sixth-rank Commandant?

It was also because of this identity that Jia Yucun had advised him to seize the opportunity to switch to a civil position that day.