The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 93: On a Duty, First Meeting with Tan Chun

He heard the retired emperor tell him about the conflicts between the emperor and his officials.

Tu Chengyu wasn't very interested, since these were things the emperor had to do, and had nothing to do with him, a prince.

He said, "Grandpa, it's no use telling me all this. I don't need it."

The retired emperor said, "Do you think I have nothing better to do than let you, this little monkey, play with me?"

"Since I'm telling you these things, it means you'll soon be able to use them."

Tu Chengyu asked, "Grandfather, are you saying that when I go to Jiangnan to pay respects to our ancestors, I will have to fight with these civil officials?"

The Emperor Emeritus said, “I’m not telling you to fight with the civil officials. I’m telling you this so that you know that the officials in Jiangnan are not as obedient as those in the capital. You need to be careful when you go there.”

Tu Chengyu said, "But my grandson won't be interacting with them this time."

The retired emperor said, "I ask you, besides sending you back to your hometown to pay respects, did the emperor give you any other instructions?"

Tu Chengyu replied, "There's nothing else to say."

The retired emperor asked in confusion, "Didn't I tell you to go and see Lin Ruhai in Yangzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Tu Chengyu realized that the Emperor Emeritus was referring to this matter, and replied:

"Father did indeed instruct his grandson to make a detour to Yangzhou after the ancestral worship ceremony to meet Lord Lin Ruhai."

The retired emperor said, "That's right. The emperor sent you to Yangzhou, did you think it was to meet your future princess?"

Tu Chengyu said, "Grandpa Emperor, does Father Emperor have a deeper meaning?"

The retired emperor said, "Sending you to see Lin Ruhai's daughter is just a side thing. Actually, the emperor wants you to meet Lin Ruhai and bring back what Lin Ruhai wants to say to the emperor."

Tu Chengyu said, "Didn't Lin Ruhai recently submit a memorial to the emperor? Why does he need his grandson to go and deliver the message for him?"

The retired emperor said, "Not a single word of his memorials these past few days is true."

Tu Chengyu said, "Does Your Majesty mean that what Lord Lin Ruhai said in his recent memorials is not what he really wanted to say?"

The Emperor Emeritus nodded and said, "That's right. Lin Ruhai has submitted three memorials this year."

"They keep saying that the salt administration in Yangzhou is normal, but the actual amount of salt tax transported to Beijing is 30% less than in previous years."

"Moreover, he also sent a letter to the Jia family, wanting to send his daughter to the Jia family for foster care."

"Lin Ruhai only has one daughter, and he is said to love her very much. If he didn't have some concerns, he wouldn't easily let his daughter live with someone else at such a young age."

"Therefore, the Emperor and I suspect that Lin Ruhai may have encountered trouble, but he cannot state this in his memorial."

"The Emperor wants you to meet Lin Ruhai so that you can speak with him in person and see if he has anything to say?"

Tu Chengyu asked, "If things are really as Grandfather said, why didn't Father send people from the Imperial Horse Administration?"

The retired emperor said, "Lin Ruhai has the authority to submit secret memorials, yet he did not submit them through the Imperial Stables. What does this indicate?"

Tu Chengyu said, "Grandfather, this means there's a problem with the Imperial Horse Stables in Yangzhou."

The Emperor Emeritus nodded and said, "You're right. Lin Ruhai probably thought the Imperial Stables were unreliable, which is why he didn't submit a secret memorial."

Tu Chengyu thought for a moment and said, "Grandpa, perhaps the Imperial Stables is reliable, and the problem lies with Lin Ruhai?"

"He may have abused his power and colluded with those salt merchants, which is why he submitted a memorial saying that everything was normal."

The Emperor Emeritus said, "Based on my understanding of Lin Ruhai, he would not do such a thing."

"However, people's hearts are fickle, and Lin Ruhai has been in this position for so long, so what you said is also possible."

"That's why the emperor sent you to talk to Lin Ruhai in person and see what the situation is."

Tu Chengyu said, "My father trusts me so much that he lets a child like me handle such an important matter."

The Emperor Emeritus gently tapped Tu Chengyu on the head and said, "Don't pretend to be stupid in front of me."

"Although you are prone to causing trouble and act boldly, you are capable of getting things done, which is why the emperor trusts you to go."

"Furthermore, because you are young, they will inevitably look down on you, which will allow you to see things more clearly."

After the grandfather and grandson had been talking for a while, they heard footsteps coming from outside the warm pavilion.

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor said, "Dai Quan, come in here for a moment."

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain was lifted, and Dai Quan walked in.

After he entered, the retired emperor asked first, "Has the Empress Dowager left yet?"

Dai Quan said, "The Empress Dowager has left."

The retired emperor said, "It's good that you've left."

After asking the Empress Dowager, the Emperor Emeritus asked, "Dai Quan, do you still have any capable people in Yangzhou?"

Dai Quan replied, "Your Majesty, there are none in Yangzhou, but there are a few in Jinling."

The Emperor Emeritus said, "Then hand these people over to Yu-ge'er, so that he will have more manpower to manage when he arrives in Jiangnan."

Upon hearing this, Dai Quan did not hesitate at all. He took a jade pendant from his waist, handed it to Tu Chengyu, and said:

“Your Highness, this is the token I used to contact those people.”

Tu Chengyu took the jade pendant, played with it, and said, "Where should I look for them?"

Dai Quan said, "This servant will write down the specific ways to contact them and send them to Your Highness later."

After finishing this matter, the Emperor Emeritus gave Tu Chengyu a few more instructions and then let him leave.

After leaving the Emperor Emeritus's place, Tu Chengyu's doubts gradually dissipated.

I finally have a better understanding of what to do when I go to Jiangnan.

He leisurely led his people back from the East Palace to his own courtyard in the West Palace.

Upon entering, Tu Chengyu saw the eunuch who served the emperor standing in his courtyard. Seeing this, Tu Chengyu suddenly felt his heart pounding.

Could it be that my father found out about my mischief and sent people to deal with me?

When Tu Chengyu entered, everyone in the courtyard naturally saw him.

The eunuchs before the emperor quickly bowed in greeting:

"This servant, Gong Bao, greets Your Highness."

Tu Chengyu asked, "Has Your Majesty come to my residence with any decree from the Emperor?"

Eunuch Gong replied, "Your Highness, the Emperor has sent me to deliver several eunuchs and palace maids to serve you."

Tu Chengyu asked, "Why did Father suddenly decide to send someone to me?"

Eunuch Gong replied, "His Majesty said that Your Highness is going out of the palace on business and he was worried that you would not have enough people by your side, so he selected a few capable people to send to Your Highness."

Since it was sent by the emperor to serve him, Tu Chengyu naturally accepted it.

Tu Chengyu asked, "Where is he?"

Eunuch Gong replied, "Your Highness, the person is waiting outside the courtyard."

Tu Chengyu said, "Then let him in so I can take a look."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Gong ordered one of his eunuchs to run out, and soon he returned with several people.

Tu Chengyu looked and saw four eunuchs and four palace maids.

The group was led to Tu Chengyu, where they all bowed in greeting.

Tu Chengyu looked them over and then fixed his gaze on the last palace maid.

He looked at the palace maid for a while before asking Eunuch Gong:

"Why did Father send me a little girl? Judging from her appearance, she's probably only seven or eight years old."

"Given her condition, should she be the one taking care of me, or should I be the one taking care of her?"

Eunuch Gong replied, "Your Highness, these palace maids and eunuchs were all personally selected by His Majesty. I do not know the reason why."

Tu Chengyu said, "I was just asking casually. Since you don't know, then forget it."

Seeing that Tu Chengyu had no further questions, Eunuch Gong led his men to take their leave.

Once they leave...

Tu Chengyu asked Xiao Xuanzi to move a chair to the yard, and Tu Chengyu sat down on the chair.

Xiao Xuanzi was instructed to summon all the eunuchs and palace maids who were already in the courtyard.

Once they were all there, Tu Chengyu had the newcomers stand in one line and the veterans in another, standing on either side of him.

Tu Chengyu did this so that everyone could greet each other and get to know each other.

The elders, led by Xiao Xuanzi and Xing'er, all knew about Tu Chengyu's rule.

After standing in line, Xiao Xuanzi introduced herself and what she was doing in the courtyard.

Then came Little Xing'er 3, followed by the other elderly people.

After they finished speaking, the newcomers knew what to say.

They followed suit, saying their names and what they had done in the palace before.

Throughout this process, Tu Chengyu kept an eye on the young-looking palace maid.

He wanted to know why his father would send such a young palace maid to serve him.

Soon, it was the young palace maid's turn to make an introduction.

She slightly raised her head and glanced at Tu Chengyu.

A clear, melodious voice said, "This humble woman, Jia Tanchun, greets Your Highness."

Although Tu Chengyu had a premonition that this little palace maid's identity would be different, he never expected that this little palace maid would actually be Jia Tanchun.

This is a very famous character in the book. Tu Chengyu never expected that he would meet a girl from the Dream of the Red Chamber here.

Tu Chengyu found it hard to believe, and in order not to mistake someone for someone else and cause a misunderstanding.

Tu Chengyu then asked, "You call yourself a subject's daughter. Do you have any elders in your family who hold official positions?"

Although Jia Tanchun was young, she spoke very shrewdly. She said, "Your Highness, my father is an Assistant Minister of Works in the court."

As soon as she finished speaking, Tu Chengyu knew that the little girl in front of him was most likely Jia Tanchun from the novel "Dream of the Red Chamber".

Because Tu Chengyu knew that Jia Zheng's official position was Assistant Minister of Works.

So Tu Chengyu asked, "Is your father Jia Zheng, Jia Cunzhou, from the Rongguo Mansion?"

Jia Tanchun said, "Your Highness is referring to my father."

The other eunuchs and palace maids around them were all incredulous when they heard that the little girl in front of them was actually a young lady from the Rongguo Mansion.

Some ignorant people might wonder how a young lady from the Jia family could become a palace maid, especially at such a young age.

Some who knew the rules of the palace already understood.

The daughters of noble families were sent to the palace at a young age not to become palace maids.

Their goal is to get the emperor or a prince.

The young lady from the Jia family in front of him was personally selected by the emperor to be presented to Prince Su; it goes without saying that this was the case.

When she grows up, she will surely become a concubine of Prince Su.

(End of this chapter)