2.36  Qingwen, Zijuan, and Xiaohong

The matter of the ancestral tombs turned out somewhat beyond Lin Rui's expectations.

Lin Ruhai's side was simple, as preparations for the funeral had long been made, and now even a grand ceremony was forced to be omitted, so things naturally proceeded swiftly. It was nothing more than placing the coffin into the pre-prepared burial vault and erecting a gravestone. As for the most troublesome task of keeping vigil over the coffin, he only needed to stand in for a single day to fulfill the duty.

On the contrary, dealing with the "ancestors" proved troublesome due to their sheer numbers.

The burials had actually been prepared for a long time, and the vaults were already dug and waiting. The crux of the matter was that the gravestones were not yet ready. Since everything in this era was done purely by hand, dozens of custom orders could not be finished in a short time, which required every single one to be clearly marked.

Otherwise, what would happen if the wrong stones were erected in the future?

There was also the planning of the memorial archway, the leveling and renovation of the surrounding grounds, and so on. Merely getting these arrangements sorted out consumed three whole days. Silver was a minor issue—he currently had plenty of it—yet manpower was severely lacking, forcing him to handle everything personally.

Even so, he had to drag Jia Lian along, because having just arrived in the capital, he had no idea whom to approach to get things done.

When everything was finally finished, it was already the third day, and it was midnight by the time he reached home.

As a result, the very next day, notification arrived that the imperial decree had come.

How truly "coincident" it was!

Right at the Si hour (9:00 AM), amidst three cannon shots, the main gates of the Lin residence were thrown wide open. A squad of imperial guards acting as an honor guard entered first. After completing their formation and dropping to one knee, a bright yellow, dragon-patterned carriage finally halted at the entrance.

This was the imperial chariot, unexpectedly dispatched directly today to demonstrate the imperial court's high regard.

"Your humble subject pays his respects to Your Majesty, wishing you peace and well-being!" Seeing someone enter, Lin Rui hurriedly dropped to his knees.

At a time like this, it was best to forget about pride or the notion that "a man has gold under his knees."

"The emperor's health is well!" To his surprise, the visitor turned slightly to receive a half-salute, then walked over quickly, bypassed the incense table to reach his side, and personally reached out to help him up. "Given that Lord Lin has laid down his life in loyal service to the country, he ought to have been heavily rewarded. Why such a grand courtesy?"

"Your Highness flatters me too much!" Lin Rui was somewhat at a loss.

First of all, was he truly qualified to warrant such politeness from this person, to the extent of being addressed as an equal?

Most importantly, wasn't today supposed to be about conveying the imperial decree? Was it appropriate to just stand around?

"Brother Rui need not be so distant." The visitor released his hand with a smile, made a gesture of invitation, and walked toward the main hall first. Upon entering, he sat directly in the host's seat and casually pointed to the guest seat. "Before coming, this younger brother heard Mother Empress mention that this time, the imperial household is in the wrong."

"This subject wouldn't dare!" Lin Rui's expression changed. After bowing, he hurriedly glanced toward the door.

Fortunately, apart from the person who had just entered, the rest were part of the honor guard, stationed a full ten paces outside.

It was also at this moment that, taking advantage of the conversation, he managed to get a clear look at the visitor—in the feudal era with its strict hierarchy, staring directly at a superior was considered extremely rude, let alone looking at royalty—though the visitor appeared very poised, displaying a high level of upbringing, it could not conceal a simple fact.

He was just a half-grown boy!

Logically speaking, Emperor Jing'an had ascended the throne many years ago; how could his eldest son still be this young?

"The imperial decree is right here; you can look at it yourself in a moment. I won't read it out." The visitor smiled as he placed a yellow silk scroll right in the center of the eight-immortals table. "I forgot to introduce myself: this younger brother is Chen Zhuo, unworthily holding the position of the Emperor's eldest son."

"Greetings, Your Imperial Highness!" Lin Rui calmly stood up and bowed.

"Before coming, Mother Empress specifically instructed that Lord Lin's affair should not have turned out this way; the imperial household owes the Lin family," Chen Zhuo said, a troubled look on his face. "It's just that circumstances are as they are, and there are many times when even the Father Emperor is placed in a difficult position, leaving no choice but to wrong you."

His words sounded quite mature, but paired with his still childish face, it felt somewhat unnatural.

"Serving the country loyally is a subject's natural duty, and this subject thanks Your Highness on behalf of my uncle." Since he truly could not figure out the other party's game, Lin Rui could only continue with diplomatic platitudes. "To receive such grace from His Majesty and Your Imperial Highness, I believe he can rest in peace beneath the nine springs."

Chen Zhuo, being after all a half-grown boy, saw that Lin Rui was not biting and a look of urgency appeared on his face.

"Brother Rui need not be so distant." Thus, he spoke even faster. "This younger brother heard Mother Empress give specific instructions that she and Lady Lin were sisters for many years, and you and I, as brothers, ought to support one another."

Seeing him act this way, Lin Rui felt even more uneasy.

Because he clearly remembered Jia Min saying that "there is no such thing as an 'Eldest Prince Faction' at all"!

Naturally, he knew that offering help in times of snow showed greater loyalty, but the problem was that his current status was too low. Blindly getting involved would only turn him into a living target. Dealing with the Second Prince's side would take virtually no effort—how much trouble could it be to eliminate a newly appointed fifth-rank official?

Of course, though he thought this way in his heart, he still had to respond with polite formulas.

"This subject has also frequently heard from my late mistress about Her Empress Mother's grace." Since he could not directly state his stance, he elevated the conversation to a higher level, heaping lavish praise on the elders. "Although I have not been in the capital long, I have also heard many times that Her Ladyship is benevolent, virtuous, and refined, truly serving as a model for the entire realm!"

Sure enough, children were easy to coax.

"Brother Rui is most thoughtful." Hearing his words, Chen Zhuo could not help but reveal a smile.

After another round of polite praise and mutual flattery that was essentially talking at cross-purposes, the Eldest Prince departed in great satisfaction. Only after watching him and his honor guard leave did Lin Rui let out a sigh of relief, pick up the imperial decree, and turn to walk toward the inner courtyard.

Just past the hallway, he saw both mother and daughter sitting in the parlor, without even a single maid left behind.

"What did he say?" Compared to her daughter's nervousness, Jia Min was much calmer.

"It was all diplomatic talk." Lin Rui did not beat around the bush and handed the decree over directly. "I haven't looked at it yet. Just now, in order to appear close, the Eldest Prince didn't read it out and just put it down, and he repeatedly mentioned the friendship between Her Empress Mother and you. I suppose it was all meant to signal his stance."

"Is that so?" Jia Min sighed softly, opened the imperial decree, and began to read.

"Mother, what does it say?" Lin Daiyu asked anxiously before she could finish reading.

"It's the same as the original promise." Jia Min wore a complex expression as she casually put down the decree. "Even though it can be called 'posthumous grief and glory,' what use is it? Anping, did you mean just now that the Eldest Prince is expressing a desire to win us over?"

"He's too anxious." Lin Rui smiled and nodded. "Did you mention this to the Empress?"

"Since the matter is of great importance, I had someone send word to the Sun family, asking the Duke of Cheng'en to pass it along. Looking at it now, the message has already reached her." Jia Min nodded lightly. "It's a pity the Eldest Prince is indeed too hasty; he is still a child after all. How could such a major matter be as simple as that?"

"I was wondering about it myself." Lin Rui voiced his own puzzlement. "Logically speaking, His Majesty has been on the throne for seven years, and the Retired Emperor reigned for decades. As the eldest son, why does the Eldest Prince look so young? Just a half-grown boy trying to act mature—it's quite interesting to watch."

"The Retired Emperor had a dozen or so sons under his knees, and the youngest was only born a few years before the Eldest Prince." Jia Min smiled as she explained. "His Majesty himself was the fourth son, a full decade younger than the eldest, Prince Yizhong. At the time, he wasn't favored, so he married rather late.

Now he is nearing forty, nearly ten years older than the Empress. The Eldest Prince was born in the second year of their marriage, which is why he appears so young. In fact, not only him—I wasn't very old when I left my maiden home either, and I am much younger than Yu'er's father."

"Thirty is old for a Mingjing degree, fifty is young for a Jinshi." Lin Rui understood her meaning.

Since Lin Ruhai had placed high in the palace examinations as a Tanhuaduan (third place) in his early twenties, he could truly be considered young and promising. As a woman, Jia Min could not have remained unmarried past eighteen, and given the significant age gap, no wonder he had always felt something was amiss after meeting them both previously.

Sister Lin was a blooming young maiden, and her birth mother possessed exquisite beauty, yet her birth father was already approaching forty?

"Mother, Brother Rui, even though we've managed to handle the Eldest Prince this time, there's no way we can keep it from the Empress. What should we do from now on?" Lin Daiyu considered things more deeply. "What if we provoke the anger of those two exalted figures? Wouldn't that be adding needless trouble?"

"Silly sister, how could things move that fast?" Lin Rui was not worried at all. "Her Empress Mother and the Eldest Prince don't really have any 'faction' to speak of. Even if they have signaled their intent to win us over, no one would expect a single meeting to make people 'bow and pledge allegiance.'

Such matters have always been based on mutual willingness. Although when the critical moment truly arrives, it often boils down to a life-and-death struggle of 'those who submit prosper, those who resist perish,' right now His Majesty is still in the prime of his life, and both princes are still quite young. No one would be foolish enough to lay their cards directly on the table."

"So that's how it is!" Lin Daiyu suddenly understood.

"What does Anping plan to do?" Jia Min asked seriously.

"Actually, I have no choice left." Lin Rui sighed helplessly. "Right from the beginning, the civil official faction cast us out. Even without mentioning my uncle's bloody feud, the Second Prince and the Wu family wouldn't care about adding a minor fifth-rank minnow to their subordinates."

"Such hatred is irreconcilable!" Jia Min said with an icy tone.

Sure enough, she had taken a side from the very beginning.

"Rest assured, Madam!" Lin Rui immediately stated his position.

From his perspective, whether for the sake of Lin Ruhai's legacy or his relationship with Sister Lin and Jia Min, reconciliation with the Wu family was completely out of the question. This inherently cut him off from the Second Prince's faction.

"Let's leave matters as they are for now." The matron finally felt reassured, then turned to speak of another matter. "A couple of days ago, I went to the Rongguo Mansion and asked for a few households of servants, mostly those I was familiar with back then, though I requested one trusted family to manage the overall affairs, and I've been arranging them one by one.

The ones outside are easy to manage, but there are three maidservants for the inner courtyard whom I am just about to assign. You and Yu'er will each have one in your courtyards, and I am keeping the last one. Because you weren't here the past two days, she hasn't been sent over yet, but today I'll have them come and serve."

"You can decide such minor matters as you see fit." Lin Rui did not care.

"Then I'll make the arrangements." Jia Min nodded. "One named Qingwen will be assigned to you henceforth—"

"Who?" Lin Rui froze, wondering if he had misheard.

"Qingwen, who originally served in Mother's courtyard. Do you know her?" Jia Min's expression shifted slightly.

"Wasn't she with Jia Baoyu?" Lin Rui doubted he could get even this wrong.

"I did hear Mother mention that she originally intended to send her over there, but just as I was asking for people, she was transferred and sent to us instead." Jia Min breathed a sigh of relief. "Rest assured, I wouldn't make a mistake about something like this."

"That's good then!" Lin Rui realized he had reacted too strongly and hurriedly patched it up. "What about the other two?"

"One is named Yingge, who also originally served in Mother's courtyard. Seeing that she is an honest and obedient child, and Xueyan isn't quite attentive enough, I sent her to Yu'er's place." Jia Min did not think too much of it. "As for the last one, her name is Lin Hongyu, and she is staying by my side."

"Are those two reliable?" Lin Rui did not trust anyone from the Jia family.

"What of it? In any case, their contracts of indenture have already been sent over." Seeing his suspicion, Jia Min explained, "Yu'er disliked the name Yingge and has already changed it to Zijuan. Hongyu is Lin Zhixiao's daughter; since I've asked for their entire family, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Lin Zhixiao?" Lin Rui was baffled once more. "Isn't he one of the four major stewards of the Jia household?"

"You know quite a bit, and what you say is correct." Jia Min was surprised by his breadth of knowledge. "His father, Old Steward Lin, was my late father's milk-brother, and generations of their family have been bondservants to the Jia family. Since I wanted them, could he refuse to come?"

"As long as you are certain." Lin Rui did not press further.

Although Lin Zhixiao was not entirely clean-handed, he could be considered a breath of fresh air among the near-human beasts of the Jia household; Zijuan was originally Lin Daiyu's personal maid and was fiercely loyal; Lin Hongyu was Xiaohong, a clever girl.

As for Qingwen, despite having quite a few flaws, she was straightforward and would be fine with proper guidance.

Since that was the case, they could use them.

"That being the case, we won't need the people from the Xue family." Jia Min breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't forget to explain it to Sister Qin, lest she overthink it." Lin Rui hurriedly reminded her.

"Do you even need to mention it?" Jia Min shot him a sideways glance.

Lin Daiyu looked at the two of them, always feeling something was not quite right.