Chapter 54

Jia Lian said:

"Regarding this recent matter, you are fighting at the front; the old lady said not to tell you for now, lest something go wrong with the war."

"They've been investigating it over at Shuntian Prefecture for more than ten days! I heard their people say it was the White Lotus Sect who did it! In order to rob money and valuables, they still haven't caught the culprit."

Jia Jing hurriedly said:

"Come on! Take me to see the eldest master first!"

The group immediately went first to the eastern wing courtyard.

……

At this moment, Jia Mu's small courtyard.

The female relatives and Jia Zheng, Jia Baoyu, and others were waiting here together.

At this moment, Jia Mu had also recovered from the affair involving the Duke of Zhao.

No matter what, since the emperor hasn't blamed anyone, there's nothing else to fear.

The urgent matter at hand is still to welcome Jia Jing back to the mansion.

Jia Jing returned from the front, was ennobled and appointed a general, has rendered service to the state, and also brought glory to the family gate; he must be welcomed solemnly.

Time slowly passed; the matrons in front came in one by one to deliver messages, and then Xiao Jiaoer loudly conveyed them to everyone in the Rong Qing Tang.

"The marquis has arrived on Rong Ning Street! Second Master Lian and Eldest Master Zhen are coming up next! Hehe!"

"The marquis is chatting with the clansmen."

"The marquis is arranging his personal troops!"

"The marquis went to the eastern wing to see the eldest master!"

……

"The marquis is on his way to the Rong Qing Tang. Hehe!"

Xiao Jiaoer hopped about, standing before the curtain of the Rong Qing Tang, looking outward.

Today she finally waited for Third Uncle to return to the mansion; she was genuinely happy from the heart, her face showing undisguised joy.

Jia Mu said to the mandarin duck standing beside her, wearing a light cyan buttoned jacket:

"Mandarin Duck, go out and welcome him for me!"

The mandarin duck, with an oval face, smiled and agreed.

Jia Mu also said to San Chun and the others below:

"You young ones also go out to welcome him! Jing'er has rendered service to family and state, so we must still show respect!"

San Chun, Daiyu, Xiang Yun, Baichai, Qin Keqing, Li Wan, Feng Jie, and others all rose and walked out toward the hall.

Meanwhile, Jia Jing, Jia Lian, Jia Huan, and others entered the inner rear court of the Jia Mansion from the eastern wing, following the hanging-flower gate.

Along the way, the maidservants and matrons, as if rehearsed, whenever they saw them performed a respectful salute, saying:

"Congratulations, Marquis, on your victorious return to the mansion!"

Jia Jing glanced at Jia Lian beside him; Jia Lian laughed and said:

"It's all arranged by our ancestors!"

Jia Jing thought to himself, this is not giving himself a chance to blow up! Jia Mu also meant well! Unfortunately…

Upon arriving at the gate of Jia Mu's upper court,

Just as he entered, he saw that on the moonlit platform beneath the front corridor of Jia Mu's Rong Qing Tang annex, a crowd of orioles and swallows—i. e., many ladies—had already gathered.

Yingchun, Tan Chun, Daiyu, and others were among them, plus some maidservants and matrons standing in attendance, all waiting together.

Until they saw Jia Jing in military attire walk in, whereupon everyone's eyes lit up.

The mandarin duck took the lead in saluting, speaking in a sweet voice:

"Congratulations, Marquis, on your victorious return to the mansion!"

Then San Chun and the others followed with a bow, speaking in a lovely voice:

"Congratulations, Third Brother, on your victorious ennoblement!"

As for the other matrons and maidservants, they knelt on the ground.

Jia Jing smiled and said loudly, "Everyone, rise!"

Before his words had even finished, Xiao Jiaoer came rushing forward, tears hanging on her smiling face, and shouted loudly:

"Hehe! Third Uncle, auspicious! Third Uncle, you've finally come back!"

Jia Jing swept Xiao Jiaoer, who had rushed over, into his arms, looking at her round face, and said:

"You little girl, it seems you've been doing well in the mansion; your face has gotten round and moist!"

Xiao Jiaoer laughed hehe and said:

"Second Miss, Third Miss, and Miss Lin have all treated me very well; Miss Yun often brings me tasty snacks from outside. Moreover, Miss Xue, after she arrived, also often calls me to the Li Xiang Courtyard to treat me to good food!"

Jia Jing rubbed Xiao Jiaoer's head, set her down, and then turned his gaze to the Jia Mansion's young ladies whom he hadn't seen in two years.

Standing foremost was Yingchun, her skin slightly plump, gentle and quiet, already almost grown into a young lady!

At this moment Yingchun's eyes were brimming with tears; seeing Jia Jing approach, she hurriedly examined him closely, fearing he might have been wounded on the battlefield; fortunately she found no obvious injury, only that his bearing seemed somewhat more stern, and Yingchun breathed a sigh of relief.

Jia Jing spoke:

"Second sister, your complexion looks not bad; are you still at ease at home?"

Yingchun nodded and said softly:

"Everything's fine at home; nothing's displeasing!"

Jia Jing nodded; now that Jia She is severely wounded and near death, the affair of Yingchun being sold to Sun Shouzhu and abused to death ought not to happen!

Moreover, with me looking after them, these Jia Mansion ladies' tragic fates will certainly not be repeated.

Jia Jing then looked past Yingchun to Tan Chun; Tan Chun now has become even more lovely and graceful, with slender shoulders, a tiny waist, an oval face, ruddy cheeks, and beneath her arched eyebrows that fly into her temples, her eyes are bright and sharp, full of heroic spirit.

Tan Chun saw Jia Jing looking over and generously greeted him:

"Third Brother!"

Jia Jing's gaze gentle, he said:

"Tan Chun sister, your calligraphy has improved greatly; the letters you used to send me were surely your brush and ink! I see you already have a touch of aristocratic bearing."

Yuan Chun, Yingchun, Tan Chun, Xichun; qin, qi, shu, hua.

Tan Chun laughed and said:

"I also have to thank Third Brother for sending back the Three Treasures Scroll; I've been tracing it, which is how I've made some progress compared to before."

Jia Jing had obtained some famous calligraphy scrolls in Liaodong, the most precious of which was the genuine Three Treasures Scroll; he sent it back to the Jia Mansion for Tan Chun.

"That's also thanks to your own diligent practice; this time I've also obtained a copy of the Confucius' Dream Condolence Scroll—its strokes are steep and perilous, its style elegant and outstanding, it can be called the premier model for regular script; when I have free time later I'll have someone bring it to you." Jia Jing said with a light laugh.

Tan Chun is one of the few talented, opinionated, and decisive masters in the Jia Mansion.

In the original work, one can see from Tan Chun's management of the household that she could establish authority, carry out reforms with bold vigor, promote benefits and eliminate harms in the Grand View Garden, gaining strong support from Baichai, Li Wan, and others, as well as the backing of the servants, showing her methods are extraordinary.

If she were not a daughter, she might also have been able to accomplish something and change the fate of the Jia Mansion.

Jia Jing, on the other hand, wanted to cultivate her, so that in household affairs she could become a capable aide.

After Tan Chun came Xichun; the little girl is not very old, her cheeks are plump and cute, and she is rather endearing.

Seeing Jia Jing approach, Xichun softly called out:

"Third Brother!"

Jia Jing rubbed her little head, deliberately breaking her cool and aloof demeanor, and said:

"Fourth sister, are you well? Have you received the lone copy of the Heart Sutra I sent as an elder brother?"

Xichun, proud and adorable, nodded, blinked her big eyes, and said cutely:

"Received!"

Tan Chun beside her said:

"Since Third Brother last wrote back, I and the second elder sister and others invite the fourth sister daily to come to our rooms to chat and play; Buddhist scriptures are only occasionally glanced at, and we don't let her read much."

Jia Jing said:

"That's good! Fourth sister is still young and still needs you to care for her a bit more in daily life."

Next came Lin Daiyu; Daiyu has already grown quite graceful and charming,

Under eyebrows like distant dark pigment, her gaze is lively and exquisite; two brows that seem to frown yet not, like light smoke they are hazy, neither wrinkled nor smooth, possessing both hazy beauty and a hint of sorrow.

A pair of eyes that seem to smile yet not, full of feeling; seeming to smile yet not, full of feeling and also carrying melancholy.

Her bearing bears the sorrow of two dimples; illness frails her whole body; her cheeks bear a sorrowful look, and her whole person exudes a fragile beauty.

Today she wears a big red feather-satin round-collared robe and a big red feather-gauze crane cloak, paired with red boots and a red cloak, making her skin appear white and smooth, like a spirit.

Lin Daiyu, being gazed upon by Jia Jing, lowered her eyes, and a voice like a jade pearl falling onto a jade plate sounded:

"Third Brother!"