A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 69 A Small Shock

The next day was Jia Zheng's birthday.

Time was already tight, and Jia Lian's departure from the capital further delayed things, so he only invited the Shi family and some old friends and colleagues.

Wang Qing took a day off early to accompany Jia Zheng in entertaining guests.

"Cousin Zheng!"

After exchanging greetings with Shi Nai and Shi Ding, Jia Zheng adopted the demeanor of an elder and said, "Qing-ge'er, come and greet your two maternal uncles!"

Wang Qing bowed deeply and said, "Wang Qing greets my two maternal uncles!"

"Good, good, good! Like father, like son!" Shi Ding said politely.

Shi Nai smiled and said, "When you went to the manor, we happened to be out. We received the things, so come over for a meal when you have time."

The writing implements that Wang Qing sent to the Marquis's residence were just ordinary items and were never even brought to the two of them.

While he was making sweeping changes at the Western City Military Command, the two of them had heard about it but were just watching to see what would happen next.

Unexpectedly, the situation took a sudden turn, and everyone in the court praised him. Only then did they remember to ask Wang Qing if he had visited the Marquis's residence.

However, the gift was really not presentable, so I could only mention it briefly to show that I had indeed paid attention to it.

Wang Qing smiled and agreed, but his demeanor was lukewarm, offering only a few perfunctory replies.

This attitude pleased Jia Zheng greatly.

Seeing a sedan chair carried by four men enter the mansion, he quickly bowed to the Shi brothers and said, "Minister Zhou has arrived! Please come in, my two cousins!"

Then, he led Wang Qing to greet him. When the sedan curtain was lifted, Jia Zheng bowed deeply and said humbly, "Lord Zhou, it is an honor for me to be here. I am sorry for not being able to greet you properly."

Minister Zhou, in his early forties, with a long beard and a refined air, stepped down from his sedan chair, stroked his beard, and smiled, saying, "Cun Zhou, you're too kind. As colleagues, it's only right to offer congratulations!"

Then, looking at Wang Qing, he said, "This must be Commander Wang, right?"

Wang Qing quickly bowed and greeted Lord Zhou: "This humble servant greets you, Lord Zhou!"

"No need for formalities!" Vice Minister Zhou said with a smile, raising his hand. "I have long heard of Commander Wang's young talent and remarkable achievements in maintaining discipline at the Western City Military Command..."

He paused, then half-jokingly added, "Unfortunately, my residence isn't in the western part of the city, so I couldn't benefit from it!"

Wang Qing quickly replied modestly, "Thanks to the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty's boundless virtue, and the strong support of the officials in the capital, I have been able to achieve some success. I am truly unworthy of such praise!"

"Excellent! It's rare to see someone so young, so composed and humble!"

Vice Minister Zhou's smile deepened. He patted Wang Qing on the shoulder and said with a laugh, "However, the capable should do more work. His Majesty and the Grand Secretaries have already agreed to merge the Five City Garrison Commands!"

Wang Qing had anticipated this, but Jia Zheng was taken aback upon hearing it.

Vice Minister Zhou stopped talking and looked at Jia Zheng, asking, "Has everyone arrived?"

"We've arrived, Your Excellency, please come inside!"

……

backyard.

Lady Wang, beaming with joy, welcomed the group of guests who had just paid their respects to Grandmother Jia into Rongxi Hall.

As an elder, Grandmother Jia could not possibly offer birthday wishes to her son. However, as a first-rank noblewoman, she held an extraordinary status and was of a higher generation. Therefore, the female relatives who accompanied her had to pay their respects to her first.

By the time we returned to Rongxi Hall, it was already dinnertime.

Madam Wang hurriedly greeted the ladies and women of noble birth and arranged for them to take their seats according to their status as host and guests.

This kind of occasion is a relatively formal social gathering, rather than a time when one can joke around and entertain one's mother in front of Grandmother Jia.

The Jia family had no dealings with uncultured people. Apart from the unmarried young ladies, everyone present, except for Aunt Xue, held an imperial title.

A wife's honor is tied to her husband's, and a mother's status is tied to her son's. Although there is a distinction between the inner and outer quarters, the seating arrangement of the women in the inner quarters is often closely related to that in the outer quarters.

These days, women only have three chances to change their fate: either marry well, have a successful son, or win at the starting line by being born into a good family.

Even if one comes from a good family, if her husband and son are not good enough, she will only be looked down upon like Aunt Xue.

Originally, Wang Xifeng was pleased with herself because of Grandmother Jia's appointment, but when she saw that You Shi also had a good position, she felt uneasy.

But then Madam Wang instructed, "Feng'er, go to the front and see if the master has started the banquet yet!"

"Hey!~"

Wang Xifeng outwardly accepted the order with pleasure, but inwardly she felt a mix of emotions.

On one hand, he lamented that Jia She couldn't learn from Jia Jing, or perhaps die one day in the belly of some concubine; on the other hand, he plotted that one day he would rise in status because of his son.

But even a clever woman can't cook without rice. Now that she doesn't even have a son, she might as well hope that Jia She will pass away soon.

As for Jia Lian's ambition to earn an imperial title ahead of schedule, she wouldn't even dare to dream of it.

Upon arriving at the south-facing hall, he summoned a servant to inquire about the situation inside, when suddenly a loud shout came from the front courtyard: "Imperial edict has arrived!"

Wang Xifeng was startled and quickly ordered someone to inform the back, while she rushed to the front yard ahead of everyone else.

Just then, the main gate of the Rong Mansion, which had always been tightly closed, slowly opened.

A group of eunuchs filed in, with the first one, dressed in a scarlet eunuch's robe, carrying a bright yellow imperial edict, striding in with an air of arrogance.

Immediately afterwards, a commotion arose behind them, and Jia She, Jia Zheng, and a group of guests, dressed in their finest clothes and composed themselves, quickly came out to greet them.

As they approached, just as they were about to kneel, the eunuch suddenly raised his hand and, in a shrill, hoarse voice, demanded, "Where is Wang Qing, the Commander of the Western City Military Command?"

Upon hearing this, the guests in front looked around in bewilderment.

Wang Xifeng felt a sudden buzzing in her head, and then heard an "Ah" from beside her.

She then seemed to wake from a dream and hurriedly looked up, only to see the crowd in front of her suddenly part like a tide, all turning their gazes to the handsome young man at the very back of the line.

Wang Qing, who was lagging behind the group, stepped forward calmly under everyone's gaze.

When Wang Qing arrived at the front of the procession, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, among others, also arrived from the backyard upon hearing the news.

Wang Xifeng quickly came to the back of Grandmother Jia and the others, and followed Wang Qing, who was at the front of the group, and bowed down in worship.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Wang Qing, Commander of the Western City Garrison, has been diligent and conscientious in resisting the rebels… He is hereby promoted to Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Garrison… and is granted one hundred taels of gold…"

"Your subject, Wang Qing, receives the imperial decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Long live the Emperor!"

What is the rank of the Deputy Commander of the Five Cities Garrison?

Wang Xifeng was still wondering when she heard the eunuch in front of her say again, "His Majesty has been so kind as to bestow this meal upon you. Lord Wang, please come with me to the palace to express your gratitude!"

Serving food?

Wang Xifeng, no longer caring about Wang Qing's rank, stood up in astonishment and looked ahead at Wang Qing, who was frequently congratulating and responding to everyone.

He wondered to himself, "Could it be that the old lady and the wife had foreseen this all along?"

Only after Grandmother Jia and the others turned to leave did she slowly withdraw her gaze.

Suddenly, Wang Xifeng caught sight of Ping'er beside her, who seemed to be enjoying the honor, and her face stiffened.

Wang Qing was merely a sixth-rank official, yet he was summoned by the emperor and even given a meal. Such imperial favor—what will he be like in the future…?

Although there are very few examples of concubines being granted official titles, Ping'er was not even considered a concubine.

But Ping'er had already started preparing for this, and if Wang Qing remembered her kindness, or if Ping'er had a child and wanted to give the child a good status, he might very well risk going against the grain to fight for her...

Although even with the emperor's favor, the rank bestowed would not be very high, it was still a title of nobility.

Being temporarily overshadowed by Lady You is one thing, but if being overshadowed by Ping'er is another, even if Jia Lian inherits the title, it will never be able to hide the fact that he is being ridden on.

……