Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Before Xifeng could say anything else, Jiaojiao said, "Grandmother, what are you talking about? Although my elder sister is my biological sister, it's not that I look down on her. But her affair with that phoenix egg born from the Jia family is a mystery to everyone in the capital, young and old. Besides, my cousin from the Wang family is the eldest grandson of the eldest son, and the future wife is a member of the clan. Can my elder sister shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

Xifeng's face changed at Jiaojiao's words. She pretended to be angry and quickly scolded her, "Jiaojiao, don't talk nonsense! Your elder sister and Baoyu are just playmates who have known each other since childhood."

Mrs. Lin, however, was not angry. Instead, she looked at Jiaojiao and said earnestly, "Jiaojiao, you can't say that carelessly. A family's prosperity is shared by all. There is no personal relationship between Daiyu and Baoyu. Besides, marriage is not just about appearance; character and ability are more important."

Jiaojiao curled her lips in disapproval, but said nothing more.

Seeing the awkwardness in the atmosphere, Xifeng quickly changed the subject, saying, "Mother, you look so tired. Why don't you let your daughter-in-law help you back to your room to rest?" She stepped forward, pretending to support Old Lady Lin. Old Lady Lin nodded slightly in agreement, and then, carefully supported by her maid, she slowly walked towards her room.

Xifeng watched their retreating figures, then turned back to glance at Jiaojiao, who stood there with an innocent look on her face. She couldn't help but sigh softly and shook her head helplessly. "This child, I've always spoiled her. She's so outspoken!" If these words were to get out, I wonder how others would react.

At this moment, Wang Yi and Lin Jingyu stepped into the courtyard side by side. As soon as Wang Yi entered the courtyard, his eyes were drawn to the dazzling collection of books. The entire courtyard was filled with the rich fragrance of books, making people feel as if they were in an ocean of knowledge. He couldn't help but sigh, muttering to himself, "The Lin family is indeed a family with a long history of literature!" After saying this, he turned his head and looked at Lin Jingyu beside him, a smile of appreciation on his face, and said, "My cousin, this place is truly elegant and extraordinary!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingyu smiled slightly and responded, "Since cousin likes this place so much, why don't you stay here for a while longer? We two brothers can study and practice calligraphy together, and play chess together. Isn't that a great pleasure in life?"

Wang Yi nodded and said, "That's great." He thought that staying here might be a good choice. He could take the opportunity to read the collection of books.

Lin Ruhai entered the palace with trepidation. Upon entering, he respectfully bowed before the emperor. When he finished, Zhang Ying, standing beside him, quickly followed suit. The emperor smiled and said, "My dear ministers, this trip to Jiangnan has been incredibly tiring for you." Hearing the emperor's words, Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying were overwhelmed. Just as they were about to kowtow again in gratitude, the emperor quickly waved his hands and said, "Please rise, my dear ministers. There's no need for such formalities between us, the ruler and his subjects. I'm in high spirits today, because the court is about to welcome a group of talented newcomers. This is a great honor for our dynasty! Therefore, I've specially invited you two to dine with me in the palace to celebrate."

Seeing this, the eunuchs in the palace took immediate action, not wanting to delay. They first methodically ordered the imperial kitchen to quickly stock up on wine glasses and bowls, ensuring a sumptuous banquet. Then, they quickly assigned a clever young eunuch to inform the two masters' attendants that their masters would be dining in the palace, so they wouldn't have to wait too long at home and get anxious.

You know, serving as His Majesty's personal attendant is not a position easily filled by just anyone. Not to mention the need for keen observation to read the emperor's words and expressions and accurately discern his intentions, simply handling the complexities of human relations requires a precise and precise sense of propriety. Take today's incident, for example. Regardless of the prominent positions and power held by Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying within the court, the sheer grace and authority displayed by His Majesty personally conferring a banquet—how could anyone else receive such a rare honor unless they were deeply trusted and held in His Majesty's close esteem? For this reason, even a seemingly insignificant matter like sending a message took on extraordinary importance at this moment.

After Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying thanked the emperor with great fear and trepidation, they sat beside him respectfully and chatted with him.

During this time, the emperor suddenly spoke with great interest, "Ruhai, I heard that this year's top scorer in the Jiangnan region is a nephew of your wife's family. Is this true?" Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai quickly stood up and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is indeed as you said. This person is my nephew Wang Yi." The emperor smiled slightly, his eyes showing a hint of admiration, and continued, "I have heard of this name for a long time. I am fully expecting him to perform well in this spring's imperial examination."

After saying this, the emperor slowly turned his head and cast his gaze towards Zhang Ying. With a smile on his face, he asked, "Lord Zhang, in your opinion, who exactly is this Wang Yi?" Zhang Ying did not dare to neglect him. He hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and bowed. "Your Majesty, I have had the honor of meeting Wang Yi several times. This man has much of the demeanor of his grandfather. He is not only talented, but also outstanding. He is truly a young talent!"

Upon hearing this, the emperor's face lit up with an expression of unconcealable joy. He couldn't help but raise his head and let out a hearty and resounding laugh. The laughter seemed to possess boundless power, instantly spreading throughout the magnificent palace, the lingering sound lingering for a long time.

"Hahahaha... That's great! Thinking back to the past, when I was just an unknown and inactive prince following behind my second brother, the Crown Prince, I had already admired Prince Sheng's talents. Moreover, over the years, the Wang family has given me a lot of financial support. Therefore, I sincerely hope to see Wang Yi win the top three places in this spring examination, and I also hope that more talented and outstanding talents will come to the fore." The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes revealing deep expectations and high hopes.

At this moment, Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying, who were standing aside, exchanged glances quickly, then knelt on their knees at the same time, kowtowed respectfully, and responded in unison: "We, the ministers, will obey the imperial edict and will do our utmost to live up to your majesty's trust and never let down this sacred mission!" Their words were firm and powerful, full of loyalty and determination.

Let's not talk about small talk anymore. The emperor was in a very good mood that day, chatting happily with everyone, and he had forgotten the time. It was not until Eunuch Su came to invite the emperor to dinner that everyone realized it was already dusk.

The emperor, observing this, seemed a bit embarrassed. He glanced at Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying, who had been accompanying him in the palace for a full day, and a wave of guilt welled up in his heart. With a slightly awkward cough, he spoke, "Lord Lin, Lord Zhang, you two have both traveled all this way here, and have accompanied me all day. You must have been incredibly tired. I hereby grant you each three days' leave, so that you can rest and recuperate at home and spend more time with your families. You may now leave."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai and Zhang Ying quickly knelt to express their gratitude. Then, they slowly rose and left the palace. Once outside, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, their bodies, tense all day, finally relaxing. They exchanged a wry smile, each sighing in unison, "Time is merciless. Back then, we were so full of energy, but now we're so broken!"

After expressing their feelings, the two said no more, bowed to each other and said goodbye, then parted ways and went home.

As for Lin Ruhai, he had been eager to return home the entire journey. When he arrived at the Lin residence, he felt a huge weight lifted off his chest, and he completely relaxed. Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, and he had been extremely cautious in the palace all day, not daring to slack off even for a moment.

Upon entering the mansion, Lin Ruhai first returned to his room to bathe and change clothes. After a thorough cleansing and tidying, he headed for Old Madam Lin's residence. Upon entering, he discovered Xifeng, Jingyu, Jiaojiao, Wang Yi, and the others had been waiting for him. Everyone's faces lit up with joy at Lin Ruhai's return. Lin Ruhai, in particular, felt his fatigue instantly dissipate as he gazed upon the warm, welcoming smiles of his family members.

As night fell and the lights came on, the Lin family mansion was ablaze with light and filled with the sounds of laughter and joy. The entire family, young and old, gathered around the dining table, happily enjoying a sumptuous dinner. The exquisite dishes exuded enticing aromas, and the intimate conversations among family members intertwined into a warm and harmonious melody.

After dinner, everyone moved to the living room and sat together. At this moment, Lin Ruhai coughed lightly, attracting everyone's attention. His face was solemn, but a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. "Today, when I met with the emperor in the palace, he mentioned the upcoming Spring Examination," Lin Ruhai said slowly.

As soon as the words fell, the hall erupted in an uproar. Everyone was ecstatic, especially Wang Yi, whose bright eyes instantly lit up with excitement. He knew full well that this Spring Examination was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him, a chance to showcase his talents and prove the fruits of his years of hard study.

Despite his excitement and anticipation, Wang Yi remained unfazed. He clearly understood that the competition for this exam would be fierce, and that standing out would be no easy task. Therefore, from that moment on, he resolved to give it his all and not miss any opportunity to improve himself.