Red Chamber 5
The salt merchant’s large ship was far more comfortable than the canal boat. Previously, on the short journey from Suzhou to Yangzhou, Lin Han had been too seasick to read. But ever since boarding this salt merchant’s large ship, he had been able to read and write throughout the journey without any discomfort at all.
Instead, two of the Lin Family’s hereditary servants fell ill.
It was said they caught a chill from the cold wind when getting up at night. Lin Han even specially called for the ship doctor. The consultation fee wasn’t expensive, but the medicine was exorbitantly priced—two doses cost a full five taels of silver. After drinking the medicine, those two servants wanted to kowtow to Lin Han.
After all, five taels of silver!
Most masters wouldn’t necessarily be willing to spend that, especially on a ship. If someone died of illness, they could just be tossed into the water—no need to even buy a coffin.
Lin Han felt somewhat embarrassed and awkwardly accepted their gesture. Later, he told A Yuan about this matter.
A Yuan’s heart stirred, and she asked, “Are both of those who fell ill hereditary servants of the Lin residence?”
“They say they’ve been with Cousin’s family since Grandfather’s generation.” Seeing his sister’s interest in their cousin, Lin Han began to enlighten her about the illustrious achievements of Lin Ruhai’s lineage.
It was only then that A Yuan learned that Lin Ruhai’s ancestors had actually been marquises, though with hereditary rank reduction. By Lin Ruhai’s father’s generation, it happened to be the last generation of nobility.
Precisely because Lin Ruhai had no title to inherit, he studied diligently. Fortunately, he was naturally intelligent and handsome, so he quickly gained fame at a young age. At twenty, he achieved third place in the palace examination, completing the transition from hereditary nobility to the clean stream faction. He also happened to catch the eye of the Rongguo Duke, who wanted to change his family’s style, and married the Duke’s legitimate eldest daughter, Jia Min. As the saying goes, among life’s four great joys, Lin Ruhai attained two overnight.
Perhaps because his first twenty years were too smooth, just when he was “galloping on horseback in the spring breeze at the height of success,” family misfortunes struck frequently. For nearly ten years, he held no proper official position. If not for his family’s substantial wealth, he would have starved long ago. Not long after returning to officialdom, he was sent to Yangzhou as the Salt Censor.
A Yuan: “…”
She had read many analysis posts of the original work, all saying that those who could become Salt Censors were the emperor’s trusted confidants. But… according to Lin Han’s account, Lin Ruhai didn’t seem like a confidant—more like a pawn.
A major pawn in the power struggle between the emperor and his sons!
When Lin Han spoke of Lin Ruhai’s achievements over the years, he couldn’t help but reveal a look of yearning: “After finishing the matters of the Imperial consort selection, I should return to Yangzhou and study hard. Cousin says my foundation is already sufficient. I must take the provincial examination next autumn. If I can pass, I can strive for the metropolitan examination two years later.”
Once he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, he could be appointed as an official. Only then would he dare to say he could be A Yuan’s support.
For now, he could only silently pray for his sister in his heart, hoping she would always be smooth and successful, free from illness and disaster.
“Cousin-in-law said that if I am truly selected, she will choose two capable families from the Lin residence’s dowry entourage to stay in Jingcheng and help me manage my dowry.” A Yuan lightly tapped her fingers on the small table, seemingly deep in thought but actually frantically searching through her system inventory for any props she could sneak in: “When the time comes, let’s choose those two households.”
Lin Han didn’t know about this matter. Lin Ruhai had only discussed the general considerations with him, not the specific details.
He frowned: “Dowry? The five thousand taels of silver Father gave probably can’t even cover the dowry…” As for the dowry Wen Shi left, it was even less mentionable—mostly books and paintings, with very little actual gold or silver.
“Cousin said he would help with the arrangements.”
A Yuan slumped back against the pillow, her tone colder than before: “We’re mutually beneficial anyway, so taking it won’t be a loss for him.”
Although Lin Han disapproved, he couldn’t think of how to persuade her at the moment.
Seeing his nose twitch, A Yuan immediately went on high alert and quickly waved her hand: “Alright, aren’t you supposed to study hard for the imperial exams so you can back me up in the future? Hurry back and review your books.” Please don’t start crying again.
A man’s tears are not shed lightly… if they fall too often, they lose their value!
Lin Han didn’t quite understand, but A Yuan’s words about “backing her up” gave him immense motivation. He immediately stood up and returned to his room, burying himself in his studies.
Qiao Xiu saw Lin Han out, then turned back to see her young mistress slumped on the couch again, feeling utterly helpless: “Miss, get up and move around. Be careful not to get too drowsy, or you won’t sleep at night.”
Fine, she had been a bit indulgent lately.
A Yuan obediently got up and paced back and forth in the room until a fine layer of sweat formed on her back, then returned to the couch and leaned against it.
Seeing that her mistress didn’t go to open the window but was instead resting with her eyes closed, Qiao Xiu left the room to fetch meals from the kitchen. On the large ship, although their guest quarters had different food from the communal meals, they still couldn’t order freely, so Qiao Xiu had to go early to pick out dishes her mistress liked.
The salt merchant’s large ship sailed north and soon arrived at the Jingcheng docks. Lin Fu had arrived early with sedan chairs, maids, and servants waiting at the pier.
Due to the year-end, the docks weren’t busy. As soon as Lin Han stepped onto the deck, he spotted the group and quickly sent his servant down. Before long, the sedan chair was carried onto the ship.
A Yuan entered the sedan chair without even showing her face. After a swaying journey, when they finally came to a steady stop, they had already entered what was once the Lin Houye Manor, now the Lin family old residence.
Since it wasn’t imperially commissioned but rather renovated from the Lin family ancestral home, even though Lin Ruhai currently held no noble title, the Lin Houye Manor was fully inherited. Only some sections of the courtyard were sealed off to avoid exceeding regulations.
The overall style of the estate was simple and dignified, quite different from the splendid and magnificent Rongguo Mansion described in books.
The siblings were led separately upon entering the second courtyard gate. Lin Han followed Lin Fu to settle in the front courtyard, while A Yuan, accompanied by Qiao Xiu, followed Lin Wang’s Wife to the rear courtyard. Their luggage was carried ahead by several servants to their respective courtyards.
Lin Wang’s Wife was also a family-born servant, once a second-tier maid by the old lady’s side. Over the years, her family had stayed in the Jingcheng old residence to watch over the Lin property. Her husband was named Lin Wang. Before Lin Fu arrived, he was the head steward of the old residence. Since Lin Fu’s arrival these days, he had been running errands outside.
Lin Fu had been quite active lately and hadn’t tried to hide it from Lin Wang and his wife.
The couple had heard that the daughter of the Lin family’s cousin had been selected as a Candidate Maiden and would come to Jingcheng next year for the Imperial consort selection, possibly even entering the palace as a consort. Their hearts burned with excitement.
In Jingcheng, there was no shortage of imperial relatives and nobles—their prestige was beyond compare.
Although the Lin Family could not be considered a prominent household, they had been hereditary nobility for many years and naturally had some longstanding connections. However, after the master observed consecutive mourning periods, lost his official position, and later went to Yangzhou to serve as Salt Censor, these old connections had grown distant. Some even severed ties entirely, leaving Lin Wang and his wife to endure the bitterness of human indifference in Jingcheng over the years.
Now that the daughter of the master’s cousin had become a Candidate Maiden and would one day become an imperial consort, wouldn’t the Lin Family also become relatives of the imperial family?
After all, they shared the same surname.
If this Lin consort gained favor and later bore the Emperor a child, and if the master and his wife had another young son, wouldn’t that make him… the imperial uncle?
These past few days, the couple maintained a serious demeanor during the day but would always cover themselves with the quilt at night and laugh together.
Walking deeper into the estate, they soon arrived at a quiet courtyard. It was a two-story building with a sizable yard. In one corner stood a pavilion, surrounded by many flowers. As it was winter, the leaves had fallen, giving the place a somewhat desolate appearance, but in spring, this courtyard would surely be beautiful.
“The master sent a letter earlier, saying the young lady has a delicate constitution and fears the cold in winter, so he opened this courtyard with a heated chamber. The heated wall and kang in the chamber were lit early and are now thoroughly warm,” said Lin Wang’s Wife ingratiatingly as she led A Yuan toward the heated chamber. “This morning, the mistress’s maternal family, the Rongguo Mansion, sent an invitation, hoping the young lady would visit. Old Madam Jia hasn’t seen the mistress in many years and must be longing for her daughter, but…”
Lin Wang’s Wife paused her steps and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret. “The master also instructed that since the young lady is a Candidate Maiden, it would be best for her to remain at home and avoid going out unnecessarily.”
A Yuan understood the underlying message: clearly, Lin Ruhai did not want her to grow too close to the Rongguo Mansion.
“In that case, Matron, please convey my apologies to Old Madam Jia of the Rongguo Mansion. Traveling by waterway in the harsh winter is taxing on the body, and I fear I may not endure it well. Tomorrow, let my brother go to the Rongguo Mansion instead. I shall not go, lest I spread any illness. Also… please help arrange for a physician.”
Seeing how sensible the cousin’s daughter was, Lin Wang’s Wife immediately smiled and replied repeatedly, “Yes, young lady, rest early. This old servant will go find a physician right away.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Matron.” Qiao Xiu stepped forward, took Lin Wang’s Wife’s arm, and escorted her out of the courtyard gate while slipping a large pouch into her hand.
Having received the reward, Lin Wang’s Wife waited until she was far from the courtyard before taking out the pouch and opening it for a look. Inside were a pair of plain silver bracelets—not overly thick but substantial in weight. This cousin’s daughter was certainly not stingy; she was a generous one.
Having received the reward, she had to handle matters properly.
In less than half an hour, the physician arrived. After taking the pulse and reciting a string of medical jargon, he finally reached a conclusion:
—A Yuan had caught a cold.
She needed to recuperate properly and, ideally, avoid going out in the cold, lest it leave lingering health issues.
Thus, the next day, only Lin Han went to the Rongguo Mansion, bearing the visiting card and gifts.
At this time, the Rongguo Mansion was not yet as declining as described in the book. Jia Daishan had only recently passed away, and the family was still in mourning. Therefore, the household lacked any red or green decorations, and even Jia She’s study was sparsely adorned with gold or jade, featuring mostly antique ornaments instead.
Although the mourning period had not yet ended, Jia She had already inherited the title and was now a First-Class General. However, due to the ongoing mourning period, he had not moved into Rongxi Hall. Instead, he received Lin Han in his outer study. Jia She was a rather unscrupulous man, skilled in antiques and bronzeware, and had little interest in a bookworm like Lin Han. In contrast, Jia Zheng was quite interested in Lin Han. His eldest son, Jia Zhu, had already begun his studies.
Jia Zheng had high hopes for his son and was particularly strict with Jia Zhu. Upon learning that Lin Han had passed the county-level imperial examination at the age of eleven and was now only seventeen and already a xiucai, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with Jia Zhu’s progress. He pulled Lin Han aside to critique Jia Zhu’s essays.
A young child who had just started learning to write naturally lacked strength in his wrist, so his handwriting was poor. Lin Han thought this was normal, but Jia Zheng’s face darkened with obvious dissatisfaction.
Lin Han felt uneasy inside, thinking that the two masters of Rongguo Mansion truly had distinct personalities.
In the end, it was Old Madam Jia who rescued him.
She was elderly and a newly widowed woman, so receiving a junior relative was not inappropriate.
This time, the conversation finally turned to the Imperial consort selection, and Lin Han inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that only this old lady in the entire household was reliable.
Old Madam Jia did not doubt that A Yuan had caught a cold. Jia Min had previously returned to Gusu twice to observe mourning, traveling by boat each time, and would always fall seriously ill after disembarking. Moreover, this Miss Lin had traveled by boat in such weather.
She only asked with deep concern, “Are the physicians on the street reliable? If not, take a name card and invite a royal physician to examine her.”
Before Lin Han could refuse, she instructed Yuanyang to summon Lai’s Wife: “Go, take the name card and invite a royal physician to examine Miss Lin. She is to enter the palace in less than two months—we must not let anything delay this important matter.”
Lai’s Wife immediately left.
Lin Han, however, broke into a cold sweat.
Oh no, oh no—his sister was only pretending to be ill.
But… he had heard clearly. The selection hadn’t even begun yet, so why did it sound as though this old lady already considered it a foregone conclusion that she would enter the palace?