Chapter 4: Drunken in Paper and Gold

The news that Jiang Jiang Mingyu had been personally selected as the Crown Prince's study companion spread like wildfire, immediately causing a sensation.

Since then, people flocked endlessly to the relay station to visit and congratulate him, presenting a dazzling and uncountable array of gifts and wealth!

There was fine cotton cloth from Songhua, soft and lightweight; colorful silks woven in Suzhou and Hangzhou, dazzlingly bright; fresh grapes brought from afar in the Western Regions, sweet and sour to the taste; tropical walnuts tributed by foreign states, fragrant and crisp; along with various other precious gifts and rare goods from all regions, too numerous to list.

These gifts and treasures piled up like mountains, filling Jiang Jiang Mingyu's guest room at the relay station to the brim, leaving virtually no space to set foot.

Facing this mountainous heap of gifts, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt a complex mix of emotions.

Every high-ranking official and noble in Jingcheng vied to befriend this new top scholar and Crown Prince study companion, for everyone knew that when the Crown Prince eventually ascended the throne, his study companion would inevitably be promoted; and if he ultimately entered the cabinet as the Grand Secretary, such an investment would never be a loss!

For the next fifteen consecutive days, Jiang Jiang Mingyu attended banquets every day and enjoyed music and song every night.

He visited every restaurant, tavern, and brothel, large or small, across the entire capital, getting drunk at every single banquet.

This country scholar from the small county town of Nanping had never experienced such extraordinary liveliness or a life of excessive indulgence in his twenty-seven years, nor had he enjoyed such luxury even before his transmigration.

Only now had he truly opened his eyes and tasted the rich delicacies of city dwellers.

Every morning upon opening his eyes, servants would report the time and location of that day's banquet.

At noon, someone would deliver banquet attire for Jiang Jiang Mingyu to change into, showing respect to the host.

Once Jiang Jiang Mingyu was fully dressed, a carriage would already be waiting to pick him up and rush straight to the banquet venue.

At the banquets, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was seated in the place of honor, surrounded by ministers and nobles raising their cups in hearty drinking, composing poems and odes amidst scenes of sensual pleasure, creating an extraordinarily lively atmosphere.

Fine wines and exquisite dishes were arranged in long rows, a dazzling sight that made one's mouth water.

Having grown up in the countryside, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had never witnessed such luxurious prosperity even in his previous life, leaving him somewhat at a loss for a moment.

But seeing everyone around him smiling and chatting, continuously raising and refilling their cups, Jiang Jiang Mingyu could only join in, draining three cups, breaking convention, and fully enjoying this long-missed time of joy.

After the banquets ended, Jiang Jiang Mingyu would usually follow the host to a brothel to continue drinking and reveling wildly.

The singing girls of the brothel threw themselves into his arms, gently stroking Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart.

Their beautiful faces and graceful, captivating figures made Jiang Jiang Mingyu's heart flutter.

Having never experienced matters of love in his life, Jiang Jiang Mingyu found himself somewhat intoxicated in this cloud-and-rain intimacy under the flowers and moon.

The enchanting, multi-colored dances and the singing courtesans with eyes as seductive as silk threads made Jiang Jiang Mingyu's blood surge; a night of spring pleasure was truly an unforgettable life experience.

Upon waking, the scattered wine cups, leftover food, and disheveled clothing on the floor recalled last night's debauched scene to him; that sense of enjoyment and excitement still lingered in his heart, making Jiang Jiang Mingyu almost unable to resist sinking deeper into it.

These fifteen days of luxurious living allowed Jiang Jiang Mingyu to become completely immersed, experiencing an indescribable sense of pleasure.

This style of hedonism was so different from Jiang Jiang Mingyu's usual life that it made him infatuated and nearly self-forgetting.

Only when he finally sobered up did Jiang Jiang Mingyu realize he had begun to grow accustomed to this dissolute lifestyle, truly wondering when in life such a massive transformation could occur!

On the sixteenth day, unexpectedly calm with no visitors disturbing him, Jiang Jiang Mingyu enjoyed the leisure and began inventorying the gifts piled high throughout the room; shortly after lunch, a servant suddenly reported that Tutor Tu Po of the Hanlin Academy, Lord Tu, had come to visit!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then remembered that over the past half-month, indeed many officials had sent people to visit, including representatives of Prime Minister Mei and Prime Minister Tu, yet none from Prime Minister He; he thought: As expected, they have finally come!

A short while later, Tutor Lord Tu of the Hanlin Academy and Steward Zhang arrived one after the other; Jiang Jiang Mingyu, just as before, warmly welcomed them into the guest room, but this time he had clearly gained some experience, knowing first to brew a pot of hot tea to serve them.

Seeing the room filled with stacks of gift boxes towering higher than a person, Lord Tu joked, "Oh, so this is a warehouse!"

"Oh my, Lord Tu is joking..." Steward Zhang followed up with a tease, "How could this be a warehouse? It looks more like a general store to me!"

While the three exchanged pleasantries and chatted about daily life, Jiang Jiang Mingyu noticed they were unlike previous guests who brought gifts; these two came empty-handed, sat down immediately upon entering, and began talking and laughing freely.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said nothing more, merely feeling slightly puzzled and wondering silently to himself.

"Is this roomful of gifts crowding you?" Lord Tu, as if knowing what Jiang Jiang Mingyu was thinking, continued, "Knowing your room was already packed tight, we didn't bring any gifts to add to your trouble."

"This humble student... to be honest..." Jiang Jiang Mingyu said somewhat shyly, "Looking at this roomful of gift boxes, I indeed feel some apprehension, unsure what to do?"

"What do you mean?" Lord Tu felt somewhat confused! This simple lad before him not only didn't mind their lack of gifts but was instead at a loss regarding the room full of gift boxes, which seemed perplexing.

"Replying to my lord..." Jiang Jiang Mingyu continued, "According to the law, officials accepting bribes can be sentenced to death! This humble student fears..." Before he could finish, both Lord Tu and Steward Zhang burst into loud laughter!

"Scholar Jiang, you worry too much!" Steward Zhang continued, "You haven't officially taken office yet, so you don't count as an official."

Lord Tu added, "Every civil and military official in the entire court has sent gifts; if you refuse to accept them, where would that leave them?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said, "Forgive this humble student's dullness; I beg my lord for instruction."

"Scholar Jiang is indeed of noble character, truly a talent capable of saving the world," Steward Zhang praised, then continued, "Among colleagues serving in the same court, the exchange of courtesies is common and unrelated to bribery; thus, what you said earlier was too severe!"

Lord Tu also saw that Jiang Jiang Mingyu was a bit simple and slow, fearing he hadn't understood, so he explained in plain terms: "If you fear being punished for taking bribes, do you not fear offending the entire court by refusing their gifts?"

With Lord Tu and Steward Zhang singing in duet like this, they gave Jiang Jiang Mingyu a solid lesson in the ways of being an official.

"But... this humble student truly has nowhere to hide... all these gifts!" Jiang Jiang Mingyu said somewhat awkwardly.

"Hahaha..." Steward Zhang patted Jiang Jiang Mingyu on the shoulder and said, "Rest assured, there will be a place to put them."

Later that evening, Steward Zhang said he had come on Prime Minister He's orders to take him to view a newly acquired residence.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then suddenly realized why the two had come empty-handed; it was not a gift of goods, but a direct gift of a mansion!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu boarded the sedan chair prepared by Steward Zhang, and the three left the relay station, traveling through various routes until they reached the eastern part of the city; although Jiang Jiang Mingyu had been in the capital for over a month, he had mostly moved about the Chengnan area, and this was his first time visiting the eastern district.

Unlike Chengnan, the eastern district was filled with large courtyards and mansions, very quiet; aside from the city patrol guards, pedestrians were rare, and those present were mostly high-ranking nobles in luxurious robes or well-dressed attendants and servants.

The sedan chair carrying the three stopped in front of the gate of a large mansion.

As soon as Jiang Jiang Mingyu stepped out of the sedan, he was immediately stunned by the massive red-lacquered gate before him, nearly thirty zhang wide!

This gate tower exuded a rich, ancient atmosphere; the huge wooden door panels were carved with intricate, magnificent patterns, and the door knockers inlaid with golden characters shimmered with light.

The grand and imposing gate was something Jiang Jiang Mingyu had never seen in his hometown in Dongzhou; only the residences of high-ranking nobles in Dongzhou possessed such magnificent and spectacular gate towers.

Passing through the main gate and walking inside, the scene became even more magnificent and overwhelming, almost leaving Jiang Jiang Mingyu dumbfounded!

First was a wide and deep main courtyard, with red walls and yellow tiles, imposing and dignified, featuring a spacious and grand layout.

On the left and right sides were exquisite side rooms, with doors and windows adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, appearing elegant and luxurious; the front hall and rear houses were connected, arranged in a staggered and orderly fashion.

The flower beds and pond in the courtyard were arranged like a fairyland.

Colorful flowers competed in beauty, emitting a captivating fragrance, while the pond was so clear one could see the bottom, with lotus leaves floating and brocade carp playing among them.

Rockeries and stone bridges dotted the landscape, creating a scene of tranquility and elegance.

Such a magnificent and spectacular three-courtyard mansion, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had only seen in the residences of prominent officials in the provincial capital of Nanping, never in his hometown in Dongzhou.

Zhang the Butler shouted, summoning the head servant. The head servant then shouted in turn; all eighteen servants in the courtyard immediately dropped their work and came to pay their respects to them!

"From now on, this is your master, the newly crowned Zhuangyuan, the Crown Prince's Reader, Jiang Jiang Mingyu, Lord Jiang!" Zhang the Butler extended one hand, fingers held together, gesturing toward Jiang Jiang Mingyu beside him, and introduced him.

"Greetings, my lord!" Old Xie introduced himself in plain speech: "I am surnamed Xie, named Er. Just call me Old Xie."

"I... I am their master?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked, looking utterly confused: "Is this grand mansion my new home for the future?"

"Grand mansion?" Lord Tu snorted, sounding slightly disdainful: "This is merely an ordinary small courtyard; it hardly qualifies as a grand mansion!"

"To speak frankly, I am ashamed; please do not take offense, Scholar Jiang..." Zhang the Butler explained: "Due to the tight schedule, among the vacant residences available in Chengxi within half a month, this one is the finest."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu drew in a sharp breath and asked: "Is this courtyard also a gift given to me?"

Zhang the Butler: "Indeed. Scholar Jiang and your family may reside here henceforth."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu hurriedly declined, adding: "No, no, no, this courtyard is too large; I cannot accept it!"

Lord Tu laughed and said: "Too large? This is already very ordinary, in Jingcheng."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu: "Silk brocades, rare treasures, and exotic fruits can be passed over, but this courtyard... it is truly too precious; I, your junior, cannot accept it!"

Zhang the Butler: "If Scholar Jiang truly feels uneasy, we could switch to a rental arrangement..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu grew even more alarmed! He exclaimed directly: "How could your junior afford to rent? Your junior truly does not have that much..."

Zhang the Butler: "It is not expensive; merely twenty taels a month..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's face immediately fell, and he cried out: "T-Twenty taels! Your junior truly does not have that much..."

Lord Tu seemed to have lost patience and directly advised: "Twenty taels is merely a fraction of a fraction of your future income; do not decline any longer. Move from the post station tomorrow! As for the rest... instruct Old Xie to handle it."

Before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could sort out his thoughts, Lord Tu spoke again: "Do not be so startled. You must adapt to such a life from now on. We are going to another place next; once we arrive there, it will leave you even more dumbfounded!"

Having finished speaking, Jiang Jiang Mingyu followed Lord Tu and Zhang the Butler out of the courtyard, boarded the sedan chair they had arrived in, and headed toward Chengxi.