Chapter 191 Recognition
The cold wind, which had been calm for the whole morning, suddenly began to howl.

It is said that being an official in Beijing is difficult, but in fact the hardest working ones are the clerks who run errands in the cabinet and the six ministries. No matter whether it is the coldest winter or the hottest summer, they have to stand outside the door waiting for the officials’ orders.

Several clerks who were standing guard at the stone steps outside the duty room of the Ministry of Rites were all dressed like cotton monkeys, with their hands in their sleeves and stamping their feet to keep out the cold. Their ears and noses were all red from the cold wind.

A clerk spoke up: “God, it’s so cold even before the winter solstice. It must be time to recruit people.”

Another clerk said: “I heard that those profiteers and Mongols have been waiting at the Great Wall Pass for a long time. As soon as the news of the signing of the contract reaches us, they will start trading. By then, a large number of livestock, furs and medicinal materials will be brought into Beijing. By then, we can just buy two sheepskin coats and deal with it.”

The clerk nodded and said, “Today the delegation is leaving Beijing.”

The clerk who was speaking suddenly remembered: “I heard that the prince’s condition has become serious again.”

Another clerk said: “The Crown Prince is not in good health, and the Second and Third Princes are also ill. At this time, let the Fourth Prince take charge of the Ministry of Revenue. What’s going on here?”

Everyone opened their eyes wide.

“presumptuous!”

At some point, Jia Yucun was already standing behind the crowd!
Everyone saluted hurriedly.

Jia Yucun: “I am tired of living! Who told you to talk nonsense here?!” He then said to the clerk who just spoke, “Go and pay this month’s salary yourself.”

The clerk was startled.

Jia Yucun: “If you dare to say a word about what’s going on in the government office, I’ll arrest you immediately!”

The clerk realized that he was fired. He looked at Jia Yucun and walked out in a huff.

“Stop.” Jia Yucun shouted in a low voice.

The clerk stopped.

Jia Yucun said to a clerk, “Take this disrespectful man out and give him ten strokes of the cane. He does not need to receive his monthly salary.”

The clerk was startled and replied in a low voice: “Yes.”

The clerk slowly turned around and stared at Jia Yucun.

Jia Yucun’s face suddenly darkened: “Ten more strokes of the cane!”

Clerk: “Yes!” He grabbed the clerk and walked out.

The other clerks were so frightened that they dared not even breathe. They stood there with their heads down, waiting for Jia Yucun to reprimand them.

Jia Yucun: “Dispersed.”

The clerks disappeared in an instant.

A cloud of dark clouds appeared on Jia Yucun’s face, and he turned and went into the duty room.

In the duty room, the Minister of Rites sat at the central desk and slowly flipped through official documents.

“Minister.” Jia Yucun walked to the desk, bowed to the Minister of Rites, and said softly, “The Jurchen envoys have been sent away.”

The Minister of Rites nodded and said, “Thank you for your hard work.”

Jia Yucun: “It is my responsibility.”

The Minister of Rites smiled and continued, “Have you heard about the Fourth Prince taking charge of the Ministry of Revenue?”

Jia Yucun: “Yes.”

Minister of Rites: “His Highness the Fourth Prince said that he wants to transfer you to the Ministry of Revenue, still as the Right Vice Minister.”

Before Jia Yucun could speak, the Minister of Rites spoke again: “Don’t rush to make a decision, go back to the duty room and think about it carefully. When you have made up your mind, whether you go or not, you must go to the Ministry of Revenue and tell them in person.”

“Yes.” Jia Yucun bowed deeply to the Minister of Rites, then stepped out.

The Minister of Rites slowly stood up, walked out into the cold wind, looked at the empty yard, shook his head and said, “You are still too young, and you dare to get involved in such matters!” After that, he turned around and walked back to the duty room.

At this time, Jia Yucun walked into his duty room and sat down in front of the desk.

The confidant brought a cup of hot tea in a covered bowl to Jia Yucun.

Jia Yucun took the tea bowl and took a sip, with the clerk’s words echoing in his ears.

Jia Yucun sat there in a daze for a while, then suddenly picked up a pen and started writing.

After finishing writing, Jia Yucun was stunned again, then he picked up the letter, blew on it, put it into the envelope and sealed it, and said to the confidant: “Go back and give it to the lady, and tell her that the box of Song Dynasty books in the study is for Miss Lin, so let’s send them over together.”

“Yes.” The confidant took the letter, turned around and walked out quickly.

Jia Yucun closed his eyes, stood up, straightened his robe, took a deep breath, and strode out.

The wind started to blow harder again, and Nanny Wang walked into Lin Daiyu’s yard through the moon gate against the wind.

A burst of laughter floated out from Lin Daiyu’s room, and soon it was scattered in the wind blowing in from the sky. A group of maids were sitting around a square table in the dining room next to the living room, playing there. They were the little maids from Qingwen and Lin Daiyu’s rooms, as well as the little maids from Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, Jia Xichun, and Xue Baochai’s rooms. Some were playing Go, some were throwing dice and drawing cards, and the ground was covered with melon seed shells.

Nanny Wang shook her head and turned into the warm room. Xueyan, Siqi, Shishu, Ruhua and Ying’er were sitting on the kang, embroidering and talking in low voices.

When they saw Nanny Wang, they quickly stood up and saluted.

Nanny Wang nodded with a smile and said to Xueyan, “I have something to tell you, young lady.”

Xueyan walked in. After a while, the door curtain was raised, and Xueyan stuck her head out and said with a smile, “Madam, come in.”

Nanny Wang: “Girls, please sit down.” Then she walked in.

The gauze curtains in the bedroom were drawn up at this time, and Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun were seen playing black and white chess. Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai and Jia Xichun were gathered in front of the desk, painting something with their brushes, and Zijuan and Xiangling were serving them on the side.

Nanny Wang walked to the desk and looked at it. On the large piece of rice paper, the two cranes were vivid and lifelike. The big tree next to it was also good, but a little rough. It was obviously painted by Jia Xichun.

Jia Xichun obviously noticed it and her face turned red.

Lin Daiyu’s pen completed the last stroke!
Zijuan had already wrung out a hot towel and handed it over.

Lin Daiyu wiped her hands and looked at the crane painted by Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai still had several strokes left to complete. As she was painting, she whispered, “I have forgotten a lot of things after not doing them for a few years.”

Lin Daiyu looked at her and smiled: “Sister Bao is too modest.”

Nanny Wang also smiled and thought: Miss Bao is a kind person.

Jia Xichun curled her lips.

Lin Daiyu saw it, pinched her little face, and then wiped her hands.

Jia Xichun gave her a sweet smile in return.

Xue Baochai had also completed the last stroke at this time, and Lin Daiyu then looked at Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang took out a piece of ink paper from her sleeve and said, “This is what the theater needs to buy.”

Lin Daiyu signed the ticket and signed her name, then asked Zijuan to bring a pair of cards.

Nanny Wang then reported, “The offerings of pigs, sheep, incense, candles, tea, silver, etc. have been prepared in front.”

After hearing this, Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Xichun.

Sure enough, the smile disappeared from Jia Xichun’s face. She turned around and sat down on the chair against the wall.

Lin Daiyu shook her head. She would go to Qingxu Temple for a religious ceremony the next day. She would not go, but she would still send the offerings.

At this moment, Xueyan hurried in and reported to Lin Daiyu: “Miss, Minister Jia’s wife is here.”

Why is she here? Lin Daiyu didn’t have time to think about it, “Please come in.”

Nanny Wang quickly called out to Zijuan and Xiangling, “Quick, put down the veil!”

The veil was lowered, separating the inner room from the outside.

Lin Daiyu went out with Nanny Wang and Zijuan.

Xue Baochai blinked and followed him out.

Xiangling was slightly stunned and followed him out.

Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun, who were playing chess, smiled at each other.

The door curtain was lifted, and Jia Yucun’s wife Jiao Xing walked in.

Jiao Xing bowed and said softly, “Hello, young lady.”

Lin Daiyu returned the greeting.

Jiao Xing didn’t know Xue Baochai, but she still nodded at her with a smile and subconsciously glanced behind her.

Jiao Xing was stunned for a moment, staring at Xiang Ling with a dull look, her lips moving as if she was saying something. After a while, she suddenly came to her senses, yelled “Miss~” and rushed behind Xue Baochai like a madman, holding Xiang Ling’s arms tightly with both hands, and shouted repeatedly: “Miss! Miss! I have found you!”

Xiangling stared at Jiao Xing in a daze.

Tears fell from Jiao Xing’s eyes: “Miss, I am Jiao Xing, I am Jiao Xing! Don’t you recognize me?!”

Tears first welled up in Xiangling’s infatuated eyes. Then she opened her mouth, suddenly threw herself into Jiaoxing’s arms, and burst into tears.

Jiao Xing hugged her and burst into tears.

Everyone was stunned. Xue Baochai suddenly remembered something and her face turned pale!

(End of this chapter)