1.6 The You Family Courtyard

Volume I
1.6 The You Family Courtyard

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The Capital.

A street, over a hundred feet wide and impeccably clean, runs horizontally less than three miles east of the Imperial Palace. Though there are few entrances along the street, each one boasts an imposing lintel. Two mansions stand side-by-side, separated only by a private alley less than twenty feet wide.

This street is "Ning-Rong Street," the core of the "Noble District" for the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

These two mansions are, of course, the Ning and Rong mansions, both belonging to the Jia clan of Jinling.

"Two dukes in one family, the foremost among the military nobility!"

However, all the great clans in the capital know that the most esteemed person within these two mansions is not the current heirs, Jia She and Jia Zhen, but the elderly matriarch of the late Duke of Rong, Lady Shi. She rarely leaves the house these days, preferring to spend her time in her own courtyard, enjoying the company of the female relatives and passing the time with laughter and play.

She is known as "Grandmother Jia."

Today, however, the courtyard lacks its usual bustle. In the vast, three-bay main hall, only three people are present—two seated and one standing. Even the serving women have been cleared from the courtyard, clearly indicating that there is a matter of importance to discuss.

"Zheng-er, is what you say true?" The old lady rarely reveals such surprise. Given her age and experience, there is little left in this world that can truly astonish her.

"How would your son dare to speak falsely?" The man, who had been sitting in the guest seat on the east side, hurriedly stood up.

The old lady is famous for a particular eccentricity: she has never favored her eldest son, Jia She, who is the heir to the Duke's estate. Instead, she resides in the main courtyard of the mansion with her second son, Jia Zheng—the man currently standing before her—and occupies the Rongxi Hall, the family’s primary reception hall, having refused to divide the family for many years.

With the entire large family living in the mansion, the legitimate heir, Jia She, was pushed to live in a separate courtyard in the east wing. He enters and exits through a black-lacquered gate on the southeast corner of the Duke's mansion. Because the gate and walkway of his courtyard are located next to the stables, he earned the mocking nickname "The Stable General."

This is because the title he inherited is only a "First-Class General," having long ago lost the exalted title of Duke.

"So, your sister and her family are returning to the capital soon," Grandmother Jia calmed down, though the joy on her face remained. "Amitabha, they are finally coming back. Ever since your brother-in-law went south to serve as an official, he hasn't moved in so many years. I, an old woman, feared I wouldn't live long enough to see them again!"

"Mother, how can you say that?" Jia Zheng hurriedly comforted her. "Your son heard news from colleagues at the Office of Transmission that brother-in-law submitted a memorial over half a month ago. He successfully handled a major case, seizing a salt merchant famous throughout the Jiangnan region for trafficking illicit salt, which has significantly filled the national treasury.

"Combined with his previous consecutive meritorious deeds over the past two years—last year, he even brought in two million taels of silver in salt taxes from the two Huai regions, a feat unprecedented since the Retired Emperor’s retirement and the seven years of His Majesty's reign—I hear His Majesty praised him greatly in the Imperial Study and spoke of summoning him back for a promotion!"

"Good, good, good!" Grandmother Jia showed a gratified smile. "Ruhai was valued by His Majesty as a trusted official when he was in the capital. Now that he returns having achieved such great merit, how could there be a lack of imperial favor? It seems his time to rise has come!"

"Mother is right!" Jia Zheng was equally joyful.

"You brothers must maintain close contact," Grandmother Jia continued to arrange. "I recall you two had a very good friendship in the past. You’ve kept in touch via letters these past few years, haven't you? Did he ever mention this achievement in his letters?"

"Naturally, he did," Jia Zheng nodded repeatedly. "And every time he mentioned it, he never failed to speak of one person: a clan nephew of their Lin family in Gusu. Since he came to seek refuge with them over two years ago, he has accomplished many great things for him. Most of the credit for these past two years is thanks to this person's assistance."

"Oh?" Grandmother Jia frowned instead. "What is his name?"

"He says his name is Lin Rui, and my brother-in-law even gave him the courtesy name 'Anping,'" Jia Zheng replied after a moment of thought. "Because of his outstanding performance, he purchased an official rank shortly after joining, and now he manages the subordinate salt guards for my brother-in-law. He manages those several hundred men in an orderly fashion."

"Is that so?" Grandmother Jia’s frown deepened. "I remember he also wrote to you once, asking you to recommend one of our own clan members and requesting you to pull some strings for him. He was later given a significant official post. Who was it again?"

"Mother is referring to Jia Hua, courtesy name Shifei, who is currently serving as the Prefect of Jinling," Jia Zheng hurriedly explained. "That was half a year ago. Mother still remembers it so clearly—what a marvelous memory you have!"

"Why wasn't he the one following along to earn merit?" Grandmother Jia ignored his flattery.

"This—" Jia Zheng was completely perplexed. "Mother, Shifei is serving in Jinling!"

"You!" Grandmother Jia shook her head slightly. "Never mind, go and attend to your business."

"Your son takes his leave!" Jia Zheng rose, bewildered, having no idea what had gone wrong.

Grandmother Jia, however, paid him no mind and bowed her head in deep thought.

"Girl, who pulled the strings to get this Jia Hua sent to Jinling?" she asked suddenly.

"Replying to the Old Ancestor, it was the Second Master who sought the help of Uncle Wang, asking him to facilitate it. He said that since our four families originally came from Jinling, it would be good to have him there to keep an eye on things," the maid Yuanyang answered hurriedly. "The Second Mistress helped manage the arrangements for this matter."

"Is that so?" Grandmother Jia's brows knitted tighter. "Why do I remember that the Wang family has recently—"

She stopped abruptly, clearly unable to recall the specifics.

"The Old Ancestor has a great memory. News is spreading among the various families that Uncle Wang's position is about to change," Yuanyang added at the right moment. "I hear he will soon be sent out as the 'Inspector-General of the Nine Provinces' and will take office any day now!"

"Oh?" Grandmother Jia wore a smile that was not quite a smile. "Taking office any day now?"

Yuanyang did not answer but knelt down first.

"Speak. It’s just us two in this room; what is there that cannot be said?" Grandmother Jia turned her head to look toward the Ning Mansion. "The position of Commander of the Capital Garrison he currently holds originally belonged to his uncle (Jia Daihua) in the eastern mansion. Now that it looks like... he's lost it?"

"I heard Uncle Wang has been working on it, but your servant hasn't heard any specific details," Yuanyang replied. "The Second Mistress has returned to her maiden home many times since the beginning of the year, but the matters discussed were not relayed back to the mansion."

"Hmph!" Grandmother Jia let out a disdainful cold laugh. "Help me send an invitation to my old sister at the Prince of Beijing's mansion. Tell her I have acquired a new gold statue of the Wenchang Emperor (the deity in charge of official careers) and would like to invite her to help me appraise it."

"Your servant understands!"

"And that person by Ruhai's side..." Grandmother Jia frowned. "Lin Rui, right? Send a letter to Min'er in my name and ask about his situation. If a child of a relative is making a name for himself, how can we be completely unaware?"

"The Old Ancestor may rest assured!"

Yangzhou.

Less than two miles from the Office of the Salt Inspector lies a cluster of connected courtyards. The people living here are respectable families of the city; while not exceedingly wealthy or noble, they all have enough to eat and wear.

In a small courtyard, Lin Rui is in the living room, though the atmosphere is far from harmonious.

The door to the main room is half-open. A woman of about forty, who looks a few years older, stands at the threshold, seemingly wanting to push the door open. Her face is full of trepidation, and she dares not actually enter. She hesitates, letting the voices from inside drift into her ears, and in the end, can only stomp her feet and leave.

No one knows how much time passed, but after a long sigh, the hall finally fell silent.

"Second Sister, have you been lacking anything these days?" After a while, Lin Rui's voice sounded again. "Do not be polite; just speak up. You have heard of my reputation, haven't you?"

The young girl in her arms looked nervous, lacking the courage to even speak.

"What a display of power, Master Lin!" Just then, the inner door was flung open violently. Another young woman emerged in a rage. She was dressed in a pink silk nightgown, dragging her wooden clogs, her hair uncombed and cascading down her back. "You still have the leisure to come and bully us, a widow and her orphans!"

At this moment, she looked quite intriguing. Despite her expression of fury—which anyone could plainly see—her slender figure and pretty face made her look utterly enchanting, leaving one unable to think of anything else.

"Pfft—" Lin Rui couldn't help but laugh. "Third Sister, have I done anything to wrong you? Don't be shy, just say it. I can change it. Is it not just money?"

The girl who had come out later clearly froze, stammering and unable to speak.

"Master Rui, please calm your anger!" the girl in his arms finally spoke, looking up at him nervously. "You know my sister's temperament; she has always spoken without thinking. Please, Master, do not take it to heart."

She and the girl from before looked five or six parts alike, yet the expression on her pretty face made one want to cherish her. She was gentle, even frail. It was strange; although they were sisters only two years apart and didn't look drastically different, their temperaments were exact opposites.

One was born with an alluring charm and a sharp tongue, while the other was as gentle as water, soft and timid.

"Come here!" Lin Rui was not truly angry, for he knew these two very well.

They were You Erjie and You Sanjie. The one who had just been driven away from the door was, of course, Mother You.

Come to think of it, his encounter with the three of them was entirely accidental. To summarize, it could basically be described as: a widow and her orphans, a local ruffian, a hero saving a beauty, hiding a concubine in a golden house, and lingering resentment.

The last part refers specifically to You Sanjie.

However, even if she was dissatisfied with someone, she still bowed her head and knelt before him.

"Master!" You Erjie hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"You, you are just not honest!" Lin Rui had already kissed You Sanjie, who had bowed her head, and only let go after a long time. "I don't remember how many times I've said it, but I must bring it up again: are you still unwilling to come back with me?"

"Master, please allow me to explain, Mother—" You Erjie hurriedly tried to defend herself.

"Do you know her terms?" Lin Rui interrupted her suddenly. "One thousand taels!"

The sisters froze instantly.

"It is true; that is indeed something she would do," You Sanjie said after a long while, her tone bitter.

"For these past two years, I have sent someone to give her twenty taels every month, and I have never skimped on your expenses. Yet, is this how she acts?" Lin Rui's tone was cold. "Besides, does it really wrong you to be my concubines?"

You Erjie dared not say more and silently rose to tidy his clothes, then her own.

You Sanjie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

"Oh my, Master, what are you saying?" Mother You couldn't help but push the door open and enter.

"Oh?"