Chapter 12: The Appointment

Jialian emerged from the master’s study, his expression somewhat dazed.

A few days ago, the people of the capital seemed to dismiss the siege by the Rebel King; though panic-stricken, they believed the bandits would disperse within three to five days, or at most a month or two.

But now, even the palace consorts were preparing white silk sashes for mourning, a clear sign of the dire state of affairs within the court!

His eldest sister, Yuanchun, who resided in the palace, had returned once for a family visit, exuding unparalleled wealth and dignity.

Yet, faced with the hundreds of thousands of rebel troops outside the city, she had no choice but to hang herself with a white silk sash.

As for the emperor seated on the dragon throne, the princes and ministers of the Jia family’s past dared not offend, now trembled under the military might of Prince Qian, Chu Yan, praying only for their survival.

Within the Jia household, how many truly grasped the gravity of the situation?

“Pitiful, fearsome, my family is truly wretched…”

Jialian ruminated wildly as he entered the Grand View Garden, where he happened upon Baoyu chatting and laughing with the sisters of the garden—Lin Daiyu, Baoyu’s elder sister, the third sisters Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun, as well as Shi Xiangyun and Baoyu’s second sister.

Upon seeing him, all the young ladies except Lin Daiyu, the three sisters Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun, and Shi Xiangyun slightly withdrew to observe proper decorum between men and women.

Several stepped forward to greet him politely. Baoyu smiled, asking, “Second Brother Lian, where were you rushing off to just now?”

Lin Daiyu was also Jialian’s cousin. When her mother passed away years ago, it was Second Brother Lian who went to Yangzhou to fetch her to the Jia household. Though they met infrequently in recent years, their relationship was much closer than with Jiarong or Jialan.

She listened attentively, clearly concerned about the bandits outside.

Jialian smiled, “I was discussing some matters with Father... Baoyu, you didn’t go to martial practice today?”

Behind the enclosures of the Grand View Garden, the shouts of young servants training could faintly be heard.

Jialian’s tone carried a hint of elder brother’s admonishment, and Baoyu immediately wiped the smile from his face and sheepishly replied, “I feel uneasy wearing armor. After the servants sweat, the whole garden reeks. These bandits, I don’t know how many days they’ll stay. It’d be better to send them out of this courtyard soon.”

Tanchun glanced at Baoyu and said, “Second Brother’s words are somewhat inappropriate. If the rebel army attacks fiercely, we might have to rely on them to help defend the city. If the smell of sweat is a problem, we can light some incense.”

Baoyu laughed, “It’s not so bad when there are screens blocking it, but once inside, it really stinks.”

Everyone knew Baoyu was somewhat eccentric, once saying that girls were made of water and men of mud—seeing girls refreshed him, but seeing men made him feel suffocated by the stench.

So no one minded his quirks. Jialian shook his head, “Baoyu, you should find something proper to do.”

Looking toward Shi Xiangyun, he smiled and asked, “Miss Shi, did you arrive just this morning?”

Xiangyun smiled, “Yes, I just arrived this morning. When I got here, I heard there was some excitement in your family’s garden, so I hurried over to see.”

Amid the chaos of the bandit siege, the Shi family still allowed her to stay here—Jialian wondered if the Shi family might have other plans…

He did not delve further, chatting briefly with them before intending to enter the enclosure to check on the servants’ training.

At that moment, a maid rushed over, breathless: “Second Master Lian, your uncle has sent someone to deliver a message.”

“Uncle sent for me?”

Jialian was momentarily stunned. He was a generation younger than Wang Zitong, who had never sent anyone directly to speak with him before, usually only addressing his wife, Wang Xifeng.

The maid hurriedly replied, “Your uncle’s messenger said the court has appointed him to negotiate peace with Prince Qian and wants you to accompany him!”

Baoyu, Lin Daiyu, Shi Xiangyun, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, and several other young ladies nearby all turned, surprised.

“Go quickly and reply. I’ll change my clothes and come at once!”

Jialian hastily instructed the maid, who nodded and hurried off to deliver the message at the second gate.

Lin Daiyu smiled, “Second Brother Lian has become a peace envoy.”

Jialian was also puzzled. He had only donated for a fifth-rank deputy magistrate position, a nominal office, and was not expected to personally negotiate peace with Prince Qian.

Xiangyun laughed, “I heard the Rebel King Chu Yan has three heads and six arms. Maybe, Second Brother, you’ll get to see what he looks like this time. When you return, you must tell us all about it!”

As she spoke, she gestured with her hands to mimic three heads and six arms, trying to scare everyone. Being younger, just a bit older than Jia Xichun, her playful and adorable gestures entertained the girls, who all laughed and teased her.

Jialian had no mind to joke with the garden ladies. After reminding Baoyu once, he hurriedly left the garden to change.

At the door, Wang Xifeng returned and called to him, “Going out again? Could it be you’re off to see some woman from the Sun or Li families?”

Jialian ignored the nagging woman, walking away without looking back. Wang Xifeng followed, sneering, “Fine, don’t say a word to me. Don’t even come home tonight! I’ll have Ping’er lock the door. Go sleep with whichever vixen you want!”

Jialian was forced to stop, turning coldly, “Uncle has asked me to negotiate peace with Prince Qian. I was just going to discuss it with Father. Do you want to come along?”

Wang Xifeng was surprised and looked at him suspiciously. “You’re going to negotiate peace? You’ve never held a serious official post before. Why would Uncle send you?”

Jialian said nothing and hurried to Father Jia Zheng’s study.

They discussed nothing of consequence. Jialian had no choice but to leave and ride towards the Wang family mansion.

Servants awaited him and promptly led him inside.

Jialian quickly met Wang Zitong. After paying respects, he asked, “Uncle, why has the court asked me, your nephew-in-law, to accompany the delegation to negotiate peace?”

He had spoken with Jia Zheng and pondered all the way, yet still could not understand why he was summoned to join the peace talks.

Wang Zitong pondered for a moment, then said, “The court has dispatched the Northern Jing Prince, the Grand Secretariat advisor and Minister of War, Minister Zhuang, to join me in negotiating with Prince Qian’s camp.”

He looked deeply at Jialian and slowly continued, “As for you, when we sent word to Prince Qian about peace talks, he specifically requested that someone from the Jia family be sent.”

“Prince Qian specifically requested someone from my family?!”

Jialian was astonished. He thought long and hard but could not see any connection between his family and the rebel prince.

If anything, it was that Prince Qian had taken Jinling a year ago, which was the Jia family’s ancestral home. Since Jinling’s occupation, no news had returned, and the Jia family knew nothing of their old residence’s current state.

Could that be the connection?

The Zhen family had remained in Jinling, but the Jias were only distantly related to them, hardly sufficient to involve Prince Qian.

“I don’t understand it either,” Wang Zitong paused, “I haven’t told the court about this. Officially, I only said I was bringing a junior with me. Lian’er, don’t tell anyone, or it might cause trouble. I’m telling you this so you can be cautious once inside Prince Qian’s camp.”

Jialian’s heart trembled, weighed down by the grave responsibility.

A single misstep could plunge him and the Jia family into an abyss of destruction.

“Come, let’s go meet the Northern Jing Prince and Minister Zhuang.”

Wang Zitong rose, and Jialian quickly followed. As they left, a thought struck him.

He asked nervously, “Uncle, in this war between two armies, is there no rule against killing envoys?”