A great battle erupted at the Jia family’s side. Outsiders didn’t know what caused it—they only knew that the previous Jia family clan head had returned and beaten the current clan head severely, breaking one of his legs directly.
Afterward, Jia Rong and his wife Qin Keqing began preparing to depart for Jinling to inspect clan affairs at the ancestral estate there.
Separation was indeed one method, but this had another unexpected effect—presumably whoever had been secretly selling the clan’s sacrificial fields would panic now.
After learning of this, the Old Madam washed her hands of it.
She didn’t care whether she’d be resented. As long as Jia Jing had even a bit of shame, he wouldn’t dare speak of this matter. If he understood propriety, he should even thank her. Once the matter truly broke out, don’t expect the Jia family could suppress it—with those servants’ mouths, it could spread until everyone knew.
Only those masters could cover their own ears and pretend not to know.
Actually, there was another problem. If Jia Zhen’s thoughts never let go, after Jia Jing passed away with no one left to control him, Jia Rong would still need to stand up.
After letting go of the matter, the Old Madam counted the days.
The examination should be over by now, right?
The results announced, right?
Where had the messenger gotten to?
They should be approaching the capital soon. Someone go to the city gate and see if anyone from our family has come with news.
As the Old Madam waited with eager anticipation, the messenger from the south arrived.
Each examination had different chief examiners, and the results would differ greatly, because each chief examiner had their own preferences.
For instance, this chief examiner liked ornate diction, that chief examiner liked steady and practical writing, another chief examiner liked unique independent thinking…
These were all very subjective and couldn’t easily be ranked higher or lower.
When deciding rankings, besides the chief examiner’s preferences, the examinee’s handwriting, neatness of the paper, and the examinee’s background and connections also mattered.
The first two were easy to understand. The latter one about background concerned the examiner’s reputation.
Some examiners were very wary of admitting descendants of high officials. As long as there were candidates of equal level, they wouldn’t place them first if they could avoid it, because once announced it easily made people think of officials colluding or flattering superiors.
For those determined to be upright officials, this was very taboo.
This time, Chen Yu placed second. The person above him was already over forty, wrote articles with brilliant eloquence yet substance—his taking first place was unsurprising.
When the news arrived, the firecrackers that had been prepared long ago were set off.
Provincial graduate, second place.
He was only seventeen years old, very young.
The Old Madam joyfully went to report this good news to the ancestors. Yun Shuyao breathed a sigh of relief—they were one step closer to her son passing the metropolitan examination and securing an iron rice bowl.
When Lin Daiyu learned of it, she also smiled with pursed lips.
Regardless of legitimate or common birth, the family got along harmoniously. Naturally, she hoped for her brother’s success too.
Lin Ruhai was congratulated all day at the yamen. Among those congratulating him, some were just following the crowd in celebration, while others were genuinely envious.
The Lin family didn’t have many children, but each one lived quite well.
The daughter married a satisfactory husband, and the son had now passed the provincial examination.
Their family’s descendants were indeed prosperous—only unfortunately most were mediocre.
Predictably, after returning home today, many would taste the sincere “loving care” from their family elders, enjoying a meal of “bamboo shoots with pork,” also drawing a wave of hatred value in the capital for Chen Yu who hadn’t yet returned.
Jia Zheng’s information wasn’t so well-informed, but someone who couldn’t stand him occupying a position without doing work deliberately came before him to share this good news. “Lord Jia, your brother-in-law Lord Lin’s only son placed second in the provincial examination—congratulations, Lord Jia.”
Jia Zheng: “…”
He forced a smile, unable to say anything.
He knew the actual relationship between the Jia and Lin families. Every time good news came from the Lin family, these sealed memories were forced to surface, leaving him not knowing how to face it.
Then once again he sighed—his eldest son had passed away. Now he still had two sons, but he couldn’t see hope for a second Zhu’er.
After sitting in the yamen for a while, Jia Zheng couldn’t sit still anymore. There wasn’t really anything requiring his attention anyway—he only occasionally came here to mark attendance.
Returning home, he went directly to Baoyu’s place. Baoyu didn’t know Jia Zheng had returned. He was solving nine-linked rings with Shi Xiangyun on a bamboo couch, their heads together, sitting very close, quite intimate.
When Jia Zheng entered, this was the scene he saw. He looked up at the sky—his expression darkened.
At this hour, Baoyu should be studying at school—this wicked obstacle had skipped class again!
A shadow fell before him. Jia Baoyu looked up questioningly, then saw Jia Zheng. His face immediately paled, his body trembling. “Sir…”
When Shi Xiangyun looked up and saw Jia Zheng’s dark expression, her body stiffened too. She looked at him, then at Second Brother, thinking this was bad—why hadn’t anyone warned them when the master returned?
She quickly went out to have someone remind the Old Ancestor and others.
She had only come to visit the Jia family today. Knowing she’d come, Second Brother said he wanted to keep her company, requesting leave by claiming illness. The Old Ancestor knew and normally it wouldn’t be a problem, but today the master had returned—this was terrible.
By the time Grandmother Jia arrived, she saw her precious grandson being beaten by his father until tears flowed endlessly, looking pitiful. Xiangyun beside him was frightened. She angrily approached: “You’re still hitting him! You as a father always hit him at the drop of a hat. I approved Baoyu’s leave. He works hard at school—what does taking half a day matter?”
“Are you blaming Baoyu, or blaming me, this old woman?”
Jia Zheng skillfully stopped when he saw her arrive. “Son wouldn’t dare. Learning is like rowing upstream—not advancing means retreating. Even if Baoyu takes leave, he shouldn’t neglect his studies—otherwise how can he win first place?”
Second Madam Wang had returned to her natal family today, otherwise she would definitely have rushed over to intervene.
Hearing these words, Grandmother Jia snorted, then detected something: “What’s wrong with you? Did you suffer some provocation outside and come back to vent this anger on Baoyu!”
Hearing Grandmother Jia’s words, Jia Baoyu’s tears flowed even more torrentially, feeling extremely wronged.
Jia Zheng looked at Baoyu with disappointed anger. “His Lin family cousin is barely older than him but has already placed second in this year’s provincial examination.”
“I won’t demand you immediately take the imperial examinations. In three more years, go take the xiucai exam—how confident are you?”
Jia Baoyu’s crying was scared to a halt. Make him take the imperial examinations—what kind of nightmare was that?
Grandmother Jia stamped her cane. “Why pressure Baoyu like this? He’s still young. After a few more years, naturally he can take the imperial examinations.”
The reason Zhu’er fell ill and didn’t recover that time was partly because studying was too arduous and drained his vitality. With that precedent there, Baoyu couldn’t repeat the same mistake.
Jia Baoyu: “…”
He wanted to say he wouldn’t go, but looking at the Old Ancestor’s and master’s expressions, he silently shed tears.
Shi Xiangyun looked left and right, secretly encouraging him: “Second Brother, in a few years you’ll definitely pass too—no need to worry.”
Jia Baoyu: “…”
No, he would never become such a mediocre common person.
Before long, Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng also learned the news of Chen Yu passing the examination. Jia Lian was quite moved. “Truly worthy of being Uncle Lin’s son—the gift for scholarship runs in the family.”
Hearing this, Wang Xifeng gave him a look. “That’s not how you say it. Look at the Eastern Residence next door.” The previous clan head was a presented scholar.
Jia Lian had nothing to say. He touched his nose, afraid his fierce wife would turn the topic to his unwillingness to study diligently. He stepped forward to embrace her shoulders. “My good Second Lady, this is the Lin family’s joyous occasion. We need to prepare what to send as congratulations—you should come up with a plan.”
Wang Xifeng wouldn’t be fooled by this sweet talk. “I can’t make that decision—we have to see what the Old Ancestor says.”
All ceremonial exchanges with the Lin family required the Old Ancestor’s personal review and approval. She had now figured out that as long as it was sufficiently generous, the Old Ancestor had no objections. If it was meager, she wouldn’t approve, making Wang Xifeng’s heart, liver, and flesh ache every time she thought of it.
The Fourth Prince learned of this matter and, without waiting for the Lin family to report, told Luo Yu first.
Luo Yu was overjoyed: “This is truly wonderful.”
The Fourth Prince also nodded with a smile: “Ze’an has both talent and perseverance—today’s success was expected.”
Ze’an was the courtesy name given to Chen Yu by his teacher.
Luo Yu’s eyes curved with joy: “Master rarely praises people—these words must be properly conveyed to him…”
She rewarded the people in her courtyard. When the news spread, the Fujin soon learned of it and went heavy-hearted to the small Buddhist hall to recite scriptures, calming her mind.
Da Chun also bore a wave of pressure. He was actually a year older than that brother-in-law. If he hadn’t passed the county examination earlier and obtained xiucai credentials, he felt he couldn’t even stand straight. Ying Yu sensed his tension and was thinking how to comfort him when she saw him start adding to his own studies. Wasn’t this a good thing?
Ying Yu simply didn’t try to dissuade him.
Congratulatory visitors came one after another. They should have held a banquet to celebrate, but because Chen Yu hadn’t returned yet, it was postponed.
After the joy, Yun Shuyao went to check on the various crops planted in her study.
The staple grains currently had no breakthrough progress. The melons, fruits, and vegetables did—after all, their growing season was relatively short.
Previously, she had planted those inconspicuous corners of the Lin residence full of fruits and vegetables. Now the Lin family was accustomed to it, and it had also established that she was not only skilled with flowers and plants but also excellent with these edible things.
Because of the previous impression, they accepted it naturally.
Yun Shuyao also had people collect some rice seeds to send specifically to the estate. She knew these seeds basically wouldn’t have breakthrough progress, but the “chain of evidence” should be established sooner rather than later.
Some seeds were very ordinary, some came from the south, and others came from the western plateau. Each variety had some differences, displaying various traits.
This was an immense field of study.
Wanting results measured in years was only natural.
Currently, some seeds in her hands actually had outstanding aspects.
But for promotion, besides yield, many other factors needed consideration—such as water requirements, lodging resistance, insect resistance, sun exposure, and so on.
Chen Yu could participate in the spring metropolitan examination next spring. If all went smoothly, he’d pass the metropolitan examination next year, then become a Hanlin bachelor, and afterward could go govern a region locally.
By that time, the grain seeds in her hands should be able to serve their purpose.
Chen Yu was still on the road now but should return soon. She had previously written a letter asking him to bring back some seeds from a certain southern peninsula country—she didn’t know if it went smoothly.
While the Lin family waited with eager anticipation, at this time the Jia family received another piece of bad news—Jia Zheng had been impeached again.
He had plenty of vulnerabilities. When no one looked, nothing happened, but once they looked, they were sure to find something.
Then he was demoted again—from fifth rank to sixth rank, now seventh rank.
Having been an official for so long, instead of rising, he had fallen.
Jia Zheng was deeply affected. He took leave and stayed home drinking heavily, still not knowing who had impeached him.
Grandmother Jia worried at home, having Second Madam Wang return to ask Wang Ziteng. Wang Ziteng had someone inquire and learned through various channels that the impeaching censor had dealings with Lin Ruhai, and moreover, he managed the Censorate himself—this type of impeachment, he could see and handle first.
Wang Ziteng was puzzled: “Did you offend Lord Lin?”
He couldn’t figure it out—had Lin Ruhai really done this? Jia Zheng’s official position was obtained through the Emperor’s grace to begin with. Many sinecures were openly sold for a price. His previous one was an actual position that he’d forcibly turned into something close to a sinecure. He had no major conflicts with others, and with the Jia, Wang, and Lin families’ reputations behind him—without good reason, no one should impeach him.
Second Madam Wang cried out in distress: “How would we dare offend him!”
Wang Ziteng: “…”
If they hadn’t offended him, with the two families being related by marriage, why would he do this—wasn’t he afraid of being called heartless?
For scholars, this evaluation was no good thing.
Second Madam Wang immediately recalled how when Yuanchun gained favor, she’d mentioned a few words about his daughter and grandchildren. She grew even angrier.
Wasn’t it just mentioning it once or twice—was this necessary?! She hadn’t even said that Yuanchun had helped Luo Yu, helping her gain face before the Emperor, letting the Emperor know of these two imperial grandchildren—what great favor was that? Couldn’t it offset this?
What relatives—these were clearly enemies!
Wang Ziteng thought of how after his niece gained favor, Noble Consort De soon found an opportunity to punish his niece’s daughter, and how the Fourth Prince had newly received two Ladies.
His niece had also borrowed the Lin family’s and Fourth Prince’s reputation to gain the opportunity for an imperial audience.
But this wasn’t really excessive—the Lin family suffered no substantial loss. The Jia family and they were already related by marriage and should help each other. Impeaching over this? Wang Ziteng frowned. Lin Ruhai was too petty.
Moreover, by doing this, he was saying that whatever happened to Yuanchun was unrelated to his Lin family. His niece’s days in the palace wouldn’t be so easy now.