The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

A lot has happened with the Jia family this year.

Not only was there the selection for Yuan Chun, but it was also the day Jia Zhu and the daughter of the Imperial Academy’s instructor got married.

Jia Lian also got engaged.

His fiancée is Wang Xifeng, the niece of Wang Er Tai Tai.

If Jia Yuan Chun could successfully enter the Prince’s Yuqing Palace, it would be a triple joy.

Unfortunately, despite their efforts to use connections and spend a large amount of money, the result was not as hoped.

Soon, the old lady learned of the situation and felt mixed emotions. The unexpected turn of events actually ended up helping the Jia family.

In the end, it was not the Crown Prince who rose to power. If Jia Yuan Chun had truly gone to the Crown Prince’s side, it would have been in vain.

Who would have thought that the one who ultimately rose to power was the Fourth Prince?

Now, the Crown Prince and the Emperor have a deep father-son bond, and next in line is the First Prince’s faction.

The Fourth Prince is currently following behind the Crown Prince.

Moreover, with his usual iron-faced impartiality, there were few who supported or believed he could become Emperor. In the end, when he actually ascended to the throne, it shocked everyone.

However, upon closer reflection, the old lady finds it not surprising that the Fourth Prince ascended to the throne.

In terms of ability, all of the current Emperor’s princes are competent, but in terms of birth, aside from the Crown Prince, he was the highest-ranking.

The Fourth Prince’s biological mother was Consort De, one of the Fourth Concubines, and his adoptive mother was Lady Tong Jia, who was later posthumously honored as Empress. He thus had half the status of a legitimate heir.

Thinking about Yuan Chun’s final fate in the dream world, the old lady couldn’t help but sigh.

She might not be unaware of the situation, but she had no other choice.

The Jia family could not be sustained by her alone.

Moreover, if she remembers correctly, Jia Zhu, the only male of his generation who had a chance to lead the Jia family upward, had a short life.

He was still very young, having just married, when he passed away. He didn’t even get to see his unborn son, leaving Jia Lan as an orphaned child.

Yun Shuyao, upon hearing this news, didn’t think about it too deeply.

Jia Yuan Chun, she knew.

She was the sister of the protagonist Jia Baoyu, who built a grand garden to welcome her relatives. Her rank was that of a consort, but beyond that, she wasn’t very clear.

Her mind was more focused on counting the days.

According to the letter sent earlier by Chenyu, he was nearing his arrival.

The old lady was also eagerly awaiting his return. As soon as her grandson arrived, she couldn’t wait to see him and stood at the gate to wait.

Chenyu saw his grandmother as soon as he landed.

He knelt down and said, “Grandson pays his respects to Grandmother!”

Before he could fully kneel, the old lady pulled him up and said, “Quick, get up. Let me see, Chenyu, you’ve lost weight.”

She looked at her thinner yet taller grandson with both affection and pride, noting how he increasingly resembled his father.

Chenyu smiled and said, “Grandmother, I’ve just grown taller.”

After not seeing him for more than half a year, the old lady hugged him tightly and, after a moment of warmth, let him go and took him to eat. “I’ve already had your favorite dishes prepared. Eat well and then get a good night’s sleep. When you’re home, you don’t need to worry about anything.”

She couldn’t bear to have her grandson so far away again. She couldn’t take it. Once she was gone, he could travel as much as he wanted.

Lin Ruhai had been present throughout but was overlooked by the old lady.

Lin Ruhai wasn’t offended and watched the scene with a smile. He appeared composed, as he had already seen Chenyu earlier.

Men’s emotions are generally more restrained.

Even though he was also pleased to see his son, he maintained a controlled demeanor.

“Have you neglected your studies during this time? I will need to check.”

He was immediately scolded by the old lady, “Hmph, Chenyu has just returned and you want to test him now? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

Lin Ruhai smiled wryly. He hadn’t said he wanted to test him immediately.

Chenyu smiled and stroked his grandmother’s hair, saying, “Grandmother, I’m not afraid. Let Father test me.”

His response made both the old lady and Lin Ruhai smile.

With diligent descendants and a naturally talented child, what more could they ask for?

Once they entered the old lady’s room, the others gathered around.

They had originally been waiting there.

However, the old lady couldn’t resist and left the others to go wait at the door.

Yun Shuyao, along with Concubine Mei and Concubine Chu, were all present.

This was a long-awaited family reunion dinner.

As soon as Chenyu entered, Yun Shuyao’s eyes were drawn to him.

He had gone out for a while, grown taller, lost weight, become stronger, and also darkened a bit.

Luoyu looked over and couldn’t help but feel curious.

She had always been the taller one, but now it seemed the situation was reversing.

Moreover, seeing this young man after some time made even Concubine Mei feel a new sense of admiration.

In a couple of years, who knows how many young women’s hearts he will captivate.

Her gaze inevitably shifted to Yingyu.

In a few years, Yingyu would also be married off.

She couldn’t help but look at her own lower abdomen.

Could she still bear children?

Thinking about the lack of good news so far, Concubine Mei felt dejected regarding the pills.

Concubine Chu, on the other hand, looked at Chenyu for a moment in a daze before retracting her gaze.

If her son were still alive… Unfortunately, her son no longer had that chance.

Seeing Chenyu eating quickly, the old lady worried that she hadn’t prepared enough. Chenyu was at an age where he was growing rapidly and had a big appetite. The old lady repeatedly asked people to prepare more, but Chenyu hurriedly stopped her: “Grandmother, it’s really enough.”

It was truly enough; he hadn’t been deprived during his travels. It was just that the home-cooked meals tasted particularly good and he was eating a bit faster.

His appetite wasn’t that monstrous yet, and he couldn’t finish all the dishes on the table.

After he insisted, the old lady stopped insisting.

Once the meal was over, the old lady urged Chenyu to go rest.

Yun Shuyao and Luoyu saw him off, and he didn’t refuse.

After finishing his meal, Lin Ruhai went to his study, instructing before he left: “When you wake up tomorrow, come to my study.”

Back in Chenyu’s courtyard, the three of them sat by the table.

The others, having observed the formalities, left to give them space to talk.

As children grow older, they naturally keep more distance from their mothers. Unlike when Yun Shuyao was younger, when she would often reach out to Concubine Mei or seek closeness, Chenyu, as a boy, maintained a certain reserve.

There is a difference between boys and girls.

Previously, when Yun Shuyao tried to get close, Chenyu would blush and shy away. Now that he had returned, when Yun Shuyao held his hand, Chenyu said nothing and remained still.

Although he had not faced much hardship while traveling and often wrote letters home, after such a long absence, he missed his aunt and sister.

He missed home.

Sitting beside his aunt and being surrounded by familiar warmth, Chenyu felt very content.

After sitting for a while, Chenyu took out a box from his sleeve and said, “Aunt, this is for you.”

During his travels, his aunt had given him a considerable amount of silver notes, saying it was to cover any expenses.

He hadn’t used any of them.

Yun Shuyao casually accepted the box and asked, “What are your thoughts from this trip?”

Chenyu pondered for a moment and sighed, “Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles—there are things you can’t learn from books; you have to see them for yourself.”

He was also thinking of traveling further in a couple of years.

To go to more distant places and travel farther.

Yun Shuyao’s gaze grew somewhat complex.

After arriving in the ancient times, she really didn’t want to travel far.

The reason?

It’s simply because traveling far during this period is too troublesome.

There are no smooth roads, no convenience stores, clinics, or repair shops in sight, and no convenient transportation options.

For those with a bit of wealth, traveling far usually means taking a carriage or a boat.

With a carriage, you have to endure the bumpy roads and pass through desolate mountains and uninhabited areas.

Modifying the carriage?

It sounds simple, but Yun Shuyao could only shake her head. How to make the carriage more comfortable?

She knew that rubber wheels could provide shock absorption, but was there rubber at this time?

She didn’t even know which plants rubber could be extracted from; it was indeed a knowledge gap for her.

On the journey, there were also random encounters with bandits, road robbers, unscrupulous shopkeepers, and other challenges.

If something went wrong, if she fell ill and there were no doctors around, it would be a test of her resilience.

Following Lin Ruhai’s transfer, they first traveled from Xingtai Prefecture to Guangzhou, and then from Guangzhou to Anlin Prefecture.

They had traveled twice in total, which left Yun Shuyao with a profound impression.

Lin Ruhai is a high-ranking official, so he doesn’t need to worry about bandits or doctors. However, encountering various unexpected delays along the way is not uncommon.

Just thinking about it makes her feel exhausted.

It’s no wonder there are so many “homebodies” in ancient times. Unless there’s something special, staying in their hometown and not traveling far is far too troublesome.

Now, seeing Chenyu so enthusiastic, Yun Shuyao can only smile and shake her head.

Having this kind of ambition is a good thing.

Going out more and seeing the world is beneficial for him, making him more grounded.

But inevitably, she’ll worry about him just like this time.

“From now on, you should put more effort into your physical training. Don’t end up being unable to even compete with your sister.”

Chenyu: “……”

Luoyu: “……”

Chenyu couldn’t help but smile wryly: “Aunt, when have I ever beaten my sister?”

His sister, like his aunt, was born with a large appetite and great strength. From childhood to now, when has he ever won against his sister?

It’s just that their family isn’t composed of martial generals, so they keep it quiet and don’t talk about his sister’s strength.

Yun Shuyao: “That’s why you need to practice more, so you can surpass your sister. That way, Aunt won’t have to worry about you so much when you go out.”

Chenyu looked at Luoyu.

Luoyu looked back innocently.

Yun Shuyao couldn’t help but laugh: “Alright, go wash up and get a good night’s sleep. We’ll talk again another day.”

After a good sleep, Chenyu had someone deliver the gifts he brought to everyone, and then he went to the study.

These gifts weren’t anything precious, just something fresh.

He went to the study and detailed to his father the journey he had undertaken over the past six months, including the various experiences he had and the memorable situations he encountered along the way.

Lin Ruhai first tested his son’s knowledge, and was satisfied to confirm that Chenyu had not wasted his time during these months and had made significant academic progress. It seemed that the tutor had put in effort, ensuring he did not slack off.

Listening to his son’s account of the journey and the many things he had seen, Lin Ruhai mentally nodded in approval. His son had observed many aspects of life: the daily grind of a family of eight, the survival tactics of ruffians, and the antics of actors and tricksters. Lin Ruhai realized his son had matured.

“You’ve worked hard on this journey.”

Chenyu, feeling a bit embarrassed, shook his head, “Father, I didn’t work hard; it’s you who’s worked hard.”

Although he had been away, everything on the trip was well arranged, and they were not in a rush, with time to rest when needed. His father, on the other hand, had often been away from home for extended periods, and certainly could not travel as leisurely as he did.

The father and son shared a deep bond.

Meanwhile, Yun Shuyao received a letter.

The letter was from her younger brother. In the spring of this year, both Yun Heng and Yun Yan participated in the imperial examinations. Yun Heng had passed the second rank and is now a scholar, successfully staying in the capital.

Yun Yan did not pass the exam and failed to make the list.

He spent some time adjusting in the capital, shaking off his feelings of disappointment, and helping his older brother establish a foothold in the city. After that, he traveled south in the company of others, engaging in a tour of study and then returning.

His planned route included Anlin Prefecture.

Considering the date of his letter and the travel time from the capital, he would arrive here soon.

She shared this news with the twins.

Although they could not address him as “uncle” in public, their blood relation was genuine, and they had maintained regular correspondence. The siblings were familiar with the Yun family.

Now that they could meet their little uncle, the siblings were both excited.

Lin Ruhai, upon learning of this, had someone keep an eye out.

Before long, Yun Yan arrived, looking like a refined and elegant young man.

He was twenty-four years old this year, and Yun Shuyao had not seen him for several years.

Upon seeing him, Yun Shuyao couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. How quickly time passes; the young boy who was once shorter than her had grown into a dependable adult man.

At this moment, Yun Yan had a different perspective as he looked at his sister.

His sister’s face and figure hadn’t changed much compared to how she looked before. If the two children weren’t already so tall, he might have thought it was the old days.

How had time seemed to stop for his sister?

He softened his tone and called out, “Sister.”

Yun Shuyao responded and then instructed them to call someone, “There are no outsiders here, so you can call him ‘Second Uncle.’”

According to the etiquette, their only uncles were the elders from the Jia family, but privately, how to address others was uncertain.

Now that they were older, if they still didn’t know what to say or not to say, it would be a good time to reflect on what they had learned over the years.

Seeing their Second Uncle, who bore a resemblance to their mother, Luoyu and Chenyu felt a stronger sense of familiarity.

“Second Uncle.”

“Second Uncle.”

“Good, Luoyu, and Chenyu, you’re both good children. Here’s a little gift from your uncle for you to play with.”

After a bit of back-and-forth, Yun Shuyao asked, “How is your older brother doing? Is everything going smoothly in the capital?”

Yun Yan replied, “Everything is fine. Older brother has already settled down in the capital.”

He added, a bit embarrassed, “Thanks to Lord Lin, otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to buy that house. Some houses are just not available to the public, let alone knowing how to purchase them. It’s really not easy to live in the capital.”

Buying a small house, in a not-so-great location, had exhausted their family’s savings accumulated over the years.

Yun Shuyao smiled slightly, “It’s good that you’ve settled down. And how are our parents?”

Yun Yan said, “They’re doing well too. Sister, how about you? Luoyu and Chenyu, how are you?”

Having come from the capital, Yun Yan shared a lot of news. Because of his sister Yun Shuyao, he had kept an eye on Jia family matters while in the capital and knew some of the situation.

“The servants of the Jia family didn’t secure the door properly.”

“Jia Zhu from the Jia family is ill, and the situation isn’t good.”

Yun Yan expressed regret, “Before I left the capital, it was a big topic of discussion. They say he’s exhausted himself despite his young age.”

“In the capital, many families that force their children to study don’t dare to push too hard anymore.”

Yun Shuyao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. If Jia Zhu really did pass away, the Jia family… would likely suffer a significant blow.