Concubine Zhao had twisted her handkerchief into a rope and was pacing the courtyard, her eyes red. The moment she spotted Jia Huan, she rushed toward him.
"Huan'er, my precious darling, were you hurt anywhere?"
"Not a scratch," Jia Huan said.
Only after examining him did Concubine Zhao let out a long sigh of relief. Then she cursed:
"Those goddamned bald donkeys! If you hurt so much as a hair on Huan'er's head, I curse you to remain in the underworld for all eternity, never to be reborn! I'll go to a Daoist temple and beg for talismans to burn your three souls and six spirits..."
"That's enough." Jia Huan interrupted his mother's endless tirade.
"Huan'er, when did you learn to fight?" Concubine Zhao asked quietly.
"Just practiced a little." Jia Huan brushed her off.
"My son's all grown up, and now he won't even tell his mother the truth!" Concubine Zhao rolled her eyes at him, then said delightedly:
"Later, I'll take Caiyun out for a stroll along Ningrong Street."
"Mother, keep this." Jia Huan handed her the bundle he was carrying.
Concubine Zhao opened it and was nearly blinded by the glittering gold.
"So much money! We're rich..."
"One, two, three... twenty-eight Gold Sycee."
Her breathing quickened, and her face flushed.
"One is enough for me." Concubine Zhao took just one Gold Sycee and handed the bundle back to her son.
She had always been greedy, stingy, and eager to seize petty advantages, but it had all been to build up savings for her son.
"Keep it." Jia Huan pushed the bundle into her hands. "From now on, use only the best clothes, jewelry, and rouge."
"Oh, my good, filial boy! I'll keep it safe for you." Concubine Zhao's heart blossomed with joy at his words. Having a capable son truly let her straighten her back and stand with confidence.
"I'll stew a big hen to nourish you." She hid the Gold Sycee away, then went to the kitchen to cook herself.
Jia Huan prepared to find Sister-in-Law Feng and repay her favor.
Before reaching the North Garden, he came face-to-face with Qiao Ping'er at the hanging-flower gate by a bend in the covered walkway.
"Brother Huan, perfect timing. Here's a fresh sturgeon and some tender, crisp lotus root. Second Mistress told me to bring them to you."
Ping'er carried a small basket, her cheeks lightly powdered. Her cherry lips pursed gently as she spoke, giving her an indescribably delicate, tender grace.
"Where's Sister-in-Law?"
"Second Mistress was bored, so she's cracking melon seeds by herself," Ping'er said.
Jia Huan murmured an acknowledgment and entered the North Garden.
Seeing this, Ping'er followed him. A man and woman alone together could easily invite gossip. She had never thought much of it before, but ever since recovering from his serious illness, Brother Huan had become a man who could stand on his own.
"Mistress, Brother Huan is here!" Ping'er called from outside the garden.
Wang Xifeng lounged languidly, her straight, shapely legs resting on an exquisitely lacquered bed. She was leafing through an account book while cracking melon seeds between her teeth. At Ping'er's call, she immediately rose and said with a drawn-out, laughing lilt:
"Brother Huan, you weren't hurt, were you? The whole street is talking about your mighty exploits today. Let me see whether you've grown three heads and six arms. How else could one man beat five men to death?"
Wang Xifeng emerged from the inner rooms with elegant steps, her incomparably radiant face full of smiles. Her phoenix eyes looked Jia Huan up and down without wavering.
Beautiful without being coquettish, graceful and alluring, she possessed a thousand charms.
"I got lucky," Jia Huan replied.
Wang Xifeng smiled without speaking, but her inward amazement only deepened. Had Brother Huan been hiding his talents and deliberately tarnishing his own reputation all along?
Ever since joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had undergone a transformation that turned heaven and earth upside down!
Even standing there quietly, he radiated the keen, valiant bearing of a man.
"Sister-in-Law, I have something for you."
Jia Huan took out a silk-wrapped parcel.
"What is it?" Wang Xifeng asked curiously.
As he unfolded the silk, Ping'er's almond eyes widened. She stared fixedly at the piece of top-grade jadeite, as large as two palms.
Wang Xifeng's reaction was even stronger. She had always adored glittering jewels, and once she saw the quality of this jadeite, she simply could not look away.
"For... for me?"
Jia Huan nodded. "Consider it repayment for those eight hundred taels of silver."
"I'm no petty woman from the marketplace. I won't take such an outrageous bargain. Go on, go on, take it back."
Though Wang Xifeng loved it dearly, she knew this piece of jadeite was likely worth more than twenty times that sum. If craftsmen carved it carefully into bracelets, pendants, thumb rings, and the like, it could fetch no less than thirty thousand taels of silver!
Besides, Brother Huan had risked his life to obtain it!
Jia Huan waved that aside. "You were willing to give eight hundred taels of silver to a good-for-nothing like me. What's one little object in comparison?"
"I appreciate the thought. Take it back." Wang Xifeng feigned displeasure.
"When I gave you that silver, I never wanted repayment. Giving me jadeite this precious makes it look as though I lent you money at usurious interest."
Jia Huan remained firm.
"You've always been shrewd and decisive, Sister-in-Law. Since when have you been so coy and hesitant? I took it by force anyway. If you won't accept it, I'll smash it."
As he spoke, he raised the jadeite, ready to dash it hard against the ground.
"All right, all right..." Wang Xifeng caught his wrist and, left with no choice, scolded him fondly:
"I'll keep it for you for now. Whenever you're short of money, come and ask for it back."
"Ping'er, put it in the treasure box and secure it with three locks. If it suffers even the slightest damage, you'd better watch your hide!"
"Yes." Ping'er gave a slight nod.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Jia Huan left without hesitation, leaving Wang Xifeng staring blankly after him.
Ping'er keenly caught the flicker of emotion in her mistress's eyes. This was probably the first time Second Mistress had received such a precious gift. Second Master Lian usually gave her no more than a hairpin, and even took her dowry money to lie among flowers and willows outside.
"What are you staring at, you wretched girl?" Wang Xifeng quickly returned to normal, though an emotion she could neither name nor explain had taken root in her heart.
After eating, Jia Huan was about to return to his room to catch up on sleep when a servant unexpectedly reported that an official from the Southern Commandant Office had arrived. He immediately roused himself.
In the main hall, the official wore a solemn expression and said gravely:
"Jia Huan, although you have earned merit, the Southern Office believes that, having only just entered its service, you should not be promoted too quickly. You would have difficulty managing the full range of duties. You will be promoted once you have accumulated sufficient seniority."
At these words, Jia Huan's expression remained utterly calm. He disliked letting his emotions show on his face, but anger inevitably stirred within him.
I still have to grind away for seniority?
No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guard is declining by the day!
Even the most ambitious newcomer, filled with aspirations but denied a larger stage, would be worn down by time into a clay statue who reported for duty at nine and left at five!
The official cleared his throat and continued:
"However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard follows the principle that those with merit receive rewards, those with ability receive office, and those who contribute more receive greater pay. After weighing all factors, we have decided to promote you to General Banner. Your benefits, however, will remain unchanged. You will command only six Strongmen, and your salary will equal that of a Great Banner. Do you have any objections?"
Jia Huan's anger turned to delight, and he declared in a ringing voice:
"This subordinate will comply with the Authorities' arrangements!"
To him, as long as he could be promoted, pay and benefits were no problem at all!
A higher position meant the authority to handle bigger cases, and becoming a Hundred-Household Commander marked a turning point: that rank granted access to the Case File Archive.
As a General Banner, he was only one step away from donning a silver-white Flying Fish Uniform. But Jia Huan knew perfectly well that even his promotion to General Banner came with reduced privileges. Crossing that next step would certainly be difficult.
The official nodded, left the appointment document, and departed.
Before you continue