Chapter 15: Dream of the Red Chamber 13

Liu柊's score was among the top ten, and since he was the most handsome of all the candidates except for Jia Hu, the Emperor naturally designated him as the *Tanhua* (third place in the imperial examination).

When the news reached the Rongguo Mansion, everyone was overjoyed. Even Lady Wang wore a smile; having a future son-in-law as a *Tanhua* was enough to bring them great honor.

Jia Lian ran to Jia Yuanchun's side and nudged her, "Eldest Sister, do you want to go watch the Jinshi parade? To see the grace of our brother-in-law, the *Tanhua*."

Jia Yuanchun was tempted.

Beside them, Jia Baoyu clapped his hands. "Go, go! Let's see Big Brother and Brother Liu!"

Jia She chuckled from the side, egging them on, "Then let's go! I'll book a private room at a restaurant, and our whole family can go."

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhang gave Jia She a light swat, but in her heart, she was very eager to see the splendor of her son parading on horseback through the streets.

Lady Shi was also tempted; since joining the Rongguo Mansion, she rarely went out except to burn incense.

Lady Wang curled her lip; she had no intention of going out just to watch Lady Zhang's son enjoy his moment of glory. As for the son-in-law's glory? A son-in-law wasn't a son.

Ultimately, everyone in the Rongguo Mansion except for Lady Wang left the estate and headed to the restaurant that the Jinshi parade was certain to pass. Jia She was quite cunning and had booked a private room well in advance. The group swarmed into the room, filling it to capacity.

Jia Zhen from the Ningguo Mansion also brought Jia Rong along to join the fun. Several children leaned against the window, looking out at the streets with curiosity; it was a sight they rarely saw, and they found it incredibly novel.

After waiting for about half an hour, the streets grew increasingly lively.

Jia Lian was the first to shout, "They're coming! They're coming! Big Brother and Brother Liu are coming!" He ran to Jia Yuanchun's side, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the window.

With a flushed face, Jia Yuanchun looked down to see Jia Hu and Liu柊 riding high-spirited horses, slowly approaching from one side of the street. Both were dressed in the red robes of the Jinshi, their fair skin and bright lips making them appear even more handsome.

Jia Yuanchun's face grew even redder. She had known Liu柊 since childhood and had naturally met him before. With a young girl's budding affection, and given that Liu柊 was both handsome and talented, Jia Yuanchun had long harbored feelings for him. However, knowing the intentions of her grandmother and mother, she assumed she had no destiny with him and kept her feelings hidden.

Who could have guessed the turn of events? Her grandfather and father both thought highly of Liu柊 and had arranged a marriage for them. Jia Yuanchun was overjoyed, but she exercised great restraint and did not show it. In the entire Rongguo Mansion, only her cousin Yingchun perceived her feelings.

Jia Hu and Liu柊 were young and handsome, attracting the admiration of many young ladies; handkerchiefs, fresh flowers, and silk flowers were tossed toward them one after another. Jia Yuanchun watched with a sense of pride and self-satisfaction.

*Hmph, that is my fiancé! No matter how you try to get his attention, he won't marry you; he will only marry me.*

"Eldest Sister, here." Beside her, Jia Lian stuffed a peony into Jia Yuanchun's hand.

Jia Yuanchun turned her head and saw—good heavens—Jia Lian, Jia Zhen, and the others had prepared two entire baskets of fresh flowers. They were arranging for the servants to lift the baskets onto the window frames, waiting for Jia Hu and Liu柊 to pass so they could dump the flowers down. They weren't even afraid of burying the two men under the flowers.

Oh, and they added a somewhat insignificant *Bangyan* (second place) to the mix. That *Bangyan* was in his forties and looked quite ordinary, so he was completely ignored. The spotlight belonged solely to the *Zhuangyuan* (first place) and the *Tanhua*.

Jia Yuanchun's lip twitched. "Are you lot going to pluck all the flowers from both mansions?"

Jia Lian and Jia Zhen merely chuckled.

Jia Lian hurriedly said, "Sister, Big Brother and Brother-in-law are almost below the restaurant. Hurry up and throw the flowers!"

Jia Yuanchun gave a soft huff but let them be. Seeing that Liu柊 had arrived below, she immediately threw the flower in her hand down.

It was as if Liu柊 shared her telepathy—in reality, Liu柊 had keen senses and had long noticed the Jia family in the restaurant, and had even seen Jia Yuanchun's movement. He raised his hand and caught the peony she had thrown. Holding the peony, Liu柊 waved at Jia Yuanchun and gave her a brilliant smile.

Jia Yuanchun's cheeks exploded in red; she felt so happy she might faint.

At that moment, the Jia servants dumped both baskets at once. With so many flowers, it became a disaster. Jia Hu and Liu柊 were startled and quickly pulled their horses to dodge. They reacted quickly, so only a few stray flowers landed on them.

The *Bangyan*, however, did not have such quick reflexes and was directly buried by the flowers. The bailiffs rushed forward to help clear the mess and rescue him. The onlookers burst into laughter, and even Jia Yuanchun couldn't help but laugh.

As the procession passed the restaurant and gradually faded into the distance, the Jia family decided to have dinner at the restaurant before returning home. Jia Daishen was in poor health and went straight to sleep upon returning. Lady Shi had originally wanted to chat with him but could only return to the Rongqing Hall in disappointment.

Of the four great joys in life—sweet rain after a long drought, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, the wedding night, and success in the imperial examinations—after Jia Hu and Liu柊 achieved success in the examinations, the wedding night followed.

Jia Hu married first; his wife was now a Princess. In this dynasty, there was no rule stating that a *Fuma* (imperial son-in-law) could not participate in politics after marrying a princess. Jia Hu was a talent highly regarded by the new Emperor, and he would not be sidelined. On the contrary, by marrying the Emperor's daughter, Jia Hu gained even more of the Emperor's trust. The Princess had fallen in love with Jia Hu at first sight; after the marriage, she did not live in the Princess's manor but moved into the Rongguo Mansion with Jia Hu, treating her mother-in-law, Lady Zhang, with great respect.

One month after Jia Hu's marriage, Liu柊 married, bringing Jia Yuanchun into his home. Liu柊 did not have romantic feelings for Jia Yuanchun, but he respected her as his wife. Not long after the marriage, Liu柊 discovered that one of Jia Yuanchun's dowry maids had designs on him; he spoke directly to Jia Yuanchun and asked her to dismiss the girl.

Liu柊 said, "In our family, we do not practice having concubines or bed-warmers. My father has only my mother as his wife, and in the future, I shall only have you as my wife."

Hearing this, Jia Yuanchun was both shocked and delighted. She never imagined she could be so happy. Even if Liu柊 was merely saying this to coax her and might find other women later, at least for now, she was happy. Jia Yuanchun immediately dismissed the maids who had tried to seduce Liu柊, regardless of the fact that they had been carefully prepared for her by Lady Wang. She only kept Baoqin, who was most loyal to her.

Liu柊 entered service in the Hanlin Academy. His work was leisurely, and in his spare time, he would guide Jia Zhu in his studies. Although Jia Hu was the *Zhuangyuan*, as a man highly valued by the Emperor, he was extremely busy. Thus, Jia Zhu could only seek guidance from Liu柊. He would also be returning to Jinling in a while to participate in the county examinations.

Jia Zhu had a talent for studying, and because Jia Daishen was around, Jia Zheng did not dare to pressure him too harshly. Jia Zhu's health was decent; as long as no accidents or sudden illnesses occurred, he was unlikely to die young.

As Liu柊 guided Jia Zhu's studies, he gauged his progress and determined that Jia Zhu would be able to pass this imperial examination and qualify as a *Xiucai*.

(End of Chapter)