Red Chamber 14

Jia Lian and Liu Xianglian headed south with Jia Zhu, intending to participate in the imperial examinations this time to test the waters.

No one held high hopes for them to pass as Xiucai.

However, given their abilities, they should at least be able to pass as Tongsheng.

When Liu Zhong returned to the mansion, he found the entire household in high spirits.

The corners of Jia Yuanchun's eyes were filled with joy and shyness.

Liu Zhong raised an eyebrow, a guess forming in his heart.

Sure enough, Mother Liu was the first to smile and say, "Zhong'er, you are going to be a father."

Liu Zhong put on a joyful expression: "Really? That is wonderful."

He walked over to Jia Yuanchun's side, took her hand, and said softly, "You have worked hard."

"It is no hardship," Jia Yuanchun felt even happier. "I am very glad."

Upon hearing that her daughter was pregnant, Wang came to the Liu mansion the next day to visit her.

Seeing only Baoqin, a maid she recognized, by Jia Yuanchun's side, she asked, "Where are Cuiyan and the others? Why are they not here to serve you?"

Jia Yuanchun replied, "I found them matches and let them get married."

Wang said, "How foolish! Those were the concubine candidates I specifically prepared for you; their families are all in Rongguo Mansion, making them easy to control. Now that you have dismissed them, who will serve your husband while you are pregnant? Do you intend to promote the Liu family's maids?"

Jia Yuanchun shook her head: "My husband said he does not want other women to serve him. While I am pregnant, he will be sleeping in the study."

Wang sighed at her daughter's lack of ambition: "What man does not stray? He is likely keeping a mistress in the study. That Zhao Yiniang was exactly the kind of woman your father kept in his study to 'add fragrance to his sleeves' back in the day."

Jia Yuanchun defended him: "My husband promised me there would be no concubines or bed-warmers, and there won't be. The only servants in his study are young pages and elderly matrons; there are no young women."

Wang still did not believe that Liu Zhong would not stray, but Jia Yuanchun did. Unable to win the argument against her daughter, Wang could only leave in a huff.

She thought to herself that Jia Yuanchun would only realize she should have listened to her own mother once she had suffered a loss.

But unfortunately, even until Jia Yuanchun gave birth, Wang never saw Liu Zhong take in any concubines or bed-warmers.

While happy for her daughter, she could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

Why was her daughter so lucky to have met such a good man as a son-in-law, while she herself had married a useless hypocrite?

Wang felt so stifled that she actually fell ill.

Fortunately, news arrived in the capital that Jia Zhu had passed the Xiucai examination; Wang felt relieved, and her illness was cured without medicine.

Not long after, Jia Zhu returned to the capital with the family of Lin Ruhai.

In the original story, Lin Ruhai died while serving as the Imperial Salt Commissioner.

That was because he was a man of the Retired Emperor, and the current Emperor, knowing Lin Ruhai's difficult situation, would not help him, but would instead squeeze out his last bit of value.

But in this world, the Emperor, out of consideration for Lin Ruhai being the brother-in-law of Jia Hu, and because Lin Ruhai was truly talented and capable, allowed his own forces in the south to assist him.

Lin Ruhai was very tactful and immediately pledged his loyalty to the Emperor, becoming his man.

Therefore, he did not waste away in the dangerous position of Salt Commissioner; the Emperor issued a decree to summon Lin Ruhai back to the capital.

Of course, Lin Ruhai did not return to the capital empty-handed.

He held most of the data on the salt administration in the south, as well as evidence of collusion between salt merchants and local officials.

With these documents and evidence in hand, the Emperor could finally strike at the officialdom and salt fields of the south.

Jia Daishan and Lady Jia Shi were both very happy about the return of Jia Min and Lin Ruhai, and both immediately invited the Lin family to stay at Rongguo Mansion.

Lin Ruhai thought that the Lin mansion still needed repairs and maintenance, and since his wife had not seen her parents for a long time and wished to show filial piety, he agreed to stay at Rongguo Mansion.

Rongguo Mansion held a grand banquet, and Liu Zhong, the grandson-in-law, also brought his wife to attend.

Meeting Lin Ruhai again, Lin Ruhai nodded at Liu Zhong with satisfaction and praise.

With his daughter and son-in-law back and his second grandson having passed the Xiucai exam, Jia Daishan was in high spirits and drank several cups of wine with his son-in-law and son.

Jia Baoyu hovered around Lin Daiyu and the young Lin brother, though primarily around Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu did not dislike this third cousin; she found him somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

Jia Baoyu felt the same, but he would not rashly point at Lin Daiyu and say, "I have seen this cousin before," as he did in the original story.

Without the evil influence of the Tongling Baoyu, although Jia Baoyu liked beauty, he knew his boundaries and would not do anything disrespectful to girls.

Furthermore, after years of instruction from his tutors, Jia Baoyu would never say things like "girls are made of water" or "scholars are bookworms."

Watching the interaction between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, Jia Min's eyes flickered as she looked at her mother.

Lady Jia Shi received her signal and smiled: "How about it? The two 'Jades' are a perfect match, aren't they?"

Jia Min nodded, but frowned slightly and whispered: "I fear my second sister-in-law does not like Daiyu."

Lady Jia Shi snorted: "As long as I am here, she won't dare to bully the girl."

Jia Min was even more tempted, but thinking that her daughter was not yet seven and still young, she said: "Let's wait until they are a bit older; they are still too young now."

Lady Jia Shi agreed, and they changed the subject.

Lady Wang did not listen to the conversation between Lady Jia Shi and Jia Min; her mind was entirely focused on her son, Jia Zhu.

Now that her son had returned, she could begin looking for a wife for him.

Since Rongguo Mansion had produced a talent like Jia Hu, his younger brothers and sisters had also become highly sought after.

However, because Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng shared a deep affection, and there was a tacit understanding between Rongguo Mansion and the Wang Family, while Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, and Jia Cong were still young, the one who naturally received the most attention was Jia Zhu.

In recent days, Lady Wang had encountered many noble ladies who wanted to inquire about marriage prospects for Jia Zhu.

Lady Wang was immensely pleased, determined to find Jia Zhu a wife from a prestigious family with a substantial dowry.

After the evening banquet concluded, Liu Zhong and Jia Yuanchun returned home.

The first thing Jia Yuanchun did was go to check on their chubby son.

Liu Zhong followed behind his wife, watching as Jia Yuanchun held their chubby son and interacted with him.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Two days later, while Liu Zhong was still at the Hanlin Academy, he received a message delivered by a servant: Jia Daishan had passed away.

He had died in his sleep, with a smile still lingering on his lips.

Jia Daishan must have been satisfied.

He had lived more than ten years longer than in the original story, seeing the third generation of Rongguo Mansion grow up and become capable of shouldering the heavy responsibilities of the household.

He had seen his grandsons prove more capable and talented than their own fathers.

--This time, not only had Jia Zhu passed the xiucai examination, but Jia Lian and Liu Xianglian had also been lucky enough to scrape by and become xiucai as well.

He had seen the fourth generation of Rongguo Mansion born: Jia Hu's son had been born a month earlier than Liu Zhong's son.

He had seen his daughter happily return to her maiden home for a visit.

Jia Daishan must have felt that this life of his was complete enough.