Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1187 The Awkward Situation at the Imperial Estate
South of the capital,

On the banks of Anhu River,

Princess Yongcheng's imperial estate was a far cry from its usual tranquility today. The vermilion gates were wide open, and outside stood two rows of gleaming guards, looking exceptionally valiant. Inside the main hall of the courtyard, maids in palace attire stood on either side, exuding an air of refinement.

The central garden was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Although it could not match the extreme luxury of the inner garden of the imperial palace, it still exuded the exquisiteness and nobility of the princess's residence.

The lakeside pavilions and kiosks are meticulously decorated, adorned with seasonal chrysanthemum and osmanthus bonsai, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. On the tables are exquisite imperial pastries, fresh fruits, and fine tea.

As the time drew near,
The invited guests arrived one after another. Many of them were sons of noble families, dressed in fine clothes, walking arm in arm in twos and threes. The other sons of aristocratic families, on the other hand, were dressed in fine clothes, outstanding and polite, with extraordinary demeanor, which drew cold looks from many of the sons of noble families.

At the same time, young ladies from various prominent families, their jewelry jingling, chatted and laughed, and many daughters of wealthy merchants from the capital also came to visit, trying to make friends with the noble ladies.

At last,
A commotion erupted at the courtyard gate; several princes and their heirs who had remained in the capital had arrived together, bearing visiting cards.

"Brother, it looks like it's going to be quite lively today. I didn't expect so many people to come. Tsk tsk."

Prince Zhou Yewen of Song clicked his tongue, his eyes lingering on the many noble ladies in the courtyard.
"Yes, my fellow brothers, look at those young ladies and daughters who have been invited. We don't usually see them."

The Crown Prince of Wu's eyes darted around the maids, but never looked at the daughters of noble families. This scene aroused the interest of Zhou Xingshan, the Crown Prince of Han, who asked a question.
"Brother Hao, what's the point of sneaking around like this? Why don't you go inside and look openly? I heard that all the young ladies from noble families and the daughter of the Minister are here today. If you can leave a good impression on any of them, then your trip won't have been in vain."

"Haha, yes, Brother Hao, it's not easy to meet these daughters of noble families today. If we can achieve something good, it will be a wonderful story."

Looking at the beautiful women inside and outside, Prince Chen's son, Zhou Yunfu, had a sudden thought. Otherwise, he might have actually found a woman who caught his eye.

Unexpectedly,

The leader, Prince Zheng's heir, Zhou Zhengbai, shook his head.
"You should just look and not actually go looking for prostitutes. Princess Yongcheng is hosting this event, and the Eldest Princess should be in the backyard. Not to mention the others, these noble ladies are all from the direct line of their respective families. They can only be married into the family. Whether they become the Crown Prince's consort is not something you or I can decide. Don't end up getting yourself into trouble without even smelling the flowers."

They know their own situation best. Their father has already begun mobilizing troops in the south, waiting for the Taiping Rebellion to move south and seize three more prefectures. Once that happens, the court will completely lose control of the southeast, and the whole country will be in uproar. These people are being held hostage in the capital, and all they want is to be law-abiding.

Upon hearing this, the group immediately lost their spirits and fell silent. Their initial excitement at coming to admire the scenery suddenly turned to boredom.
“Brother Shi is right. In that case, why don’t we choose a seat, sit down at a table, drink and eat, have a small gathering, and see how the fun goes?”

"good."

After a brief discussion, the group decided not to linger and went to the corner of the pavilion with their entourage. They found a table, sat down, and asked the maids to serve tea, water, and pastries.

Outside the door,
Many people arrived one after another. Among them was Jia Baoyu from the Rongguo Mansion, who arrived surrounded by the servants of the Jia family. Today, he specially wore a bright red arrow-sleeved shirt, which made his face look even more powdered and his lips as red as rouge.

He had initially seemed reluctant, but after getting off the carriage and taking the invitation, he entered the garden. Instantly, he was captivated by the scenery, so different from the Jia family mansion, and by the beautiful women all around. He was especially excited and delighted to see several familiar young ladies from prominent families.

He couldn't help but move closer, but as soon as he reached the pavilion, he spotted his classmates and friends from the Imperial Academy, including Song Xingjun, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Chengyi. He stopped in his tracks, and was spotted by Li Chongwen, the sharp-eyed illegitimate son of the Marquis of Anping, who excitedly greeted him and called out.
"Brother Baoyu, here, here."

Seeing that someone was calling out, the people sitting around the table turned their gazes towards him. Jia Baoyu couldn't pretend not to see them, so he could only turn around, walk over, and perform the proper greeting.
"Greetings, fellow gentlemen."

"Oh, why are you being so polite? Please sit down, please sit down. We were just talking about you."

Before the formalities were even finished, Qi Shan, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Zhongqin, pulled him over, sat him down at the table, and poured Jia Baoyu a bowl of tea.

“Brother Baoyu, why are you so late? I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while. I’ve heard that Princess Yongcheng is hosting this event to support the unmarried young ladies from noble families and noblewomen in the capital. She says she’s here to choose husbands. Is that what you’re thinking, Brother Baoyu?”

When it came to the interesting part, Qi Shan's face had already started to chuckle, making Bao Yu's face freeze with embarrassment, as he hadn't heard about these things.

"Brother Qishan, you mustn't say that. Brother Baoyu is already engaged. He might even run into his fiancée here."

Song Xingjun didn't like these things. He would remember courtesans to some extent, but these daughters of noble families were too proud and arrogant. They were not fun at all. Sure enough, when he said this, the people around him were stunned. They were right. Only Jia Baoyu felt a little complicated. He thought of the Meng family girl. She was really like a lotus flower in a pond, a beautiful flower emerging from the water.

I'm thinking about some things.

outside the door,

Xue Baochai's carriage arrived shortly after. She wasn't dressed in any fancy clothes today, but rather in a dark-colored brocade dress with gold trim, which was elegant yet luxurious. The kingfisher feather and pearl hairpin in her hair shone brightly, making her skin appear even whiter and her demeanor dignified and serene.

As soon as he got off the carriage, he led his men straight to the main hall in the central courtyard. Upon entering, he heard cheerful laughter and chatter. He then informed the lady-in-waiting at the door.

inside the house,

There was no one else around. Princess Yongcheng, Zhou Ying, sat in the head seat, and beside her was Princess Zhou Xiangxue, who wore a moon-white brocade robe, which could not conceal her voluptuous figure.
"Sister, you seem to be in a very good mood today. I thought you were just looking for an opportunity not to come."

Princess Zhou Ying of Yongcheng, dressed in a bright yellow palace gown, was radiant and beautiful, like the most dazzling flower in autumn. She gently held a bowl of tea, took a sip, and parted her red lips slightly.

"What are you saying, little sister? It's only early autumn, the most beautiful season. We can only get together here because of you, so of course I'll come."

Zhou Xiangxue smiled gently, without making any veiled accusations. However, her gaze remained fixed on the Second Princess. As for that consort, she wondered where he was being held. There was still no definite news about the situation in the Northwest, so she couldn't act rashly.

Princess Yongcheng smiled slightly, a strange glint in her eyes. She hadn't seen her sister for several days, and her charm had changed drastically. It was obvious that she had fallen in love. She wondered which man he was and needed to investigate him secretly. If she could find out who he was, things would be much easier.

"Look at what you're saying, sister. All the things I've done are still on your mind. It's been so many days since we last met. You've become even more radiant than before. I wonder if you found a gigolo to keep after what happened at Tengshu Pavilion last time?"

Her face grew even more shy, and the maids serving her around her lowered their heads even further.

The princess remained expressionless, but Wei Shuyun, who was beside her, suppressed her anger and blushed as she thought of Luo Yunhou's philandering that day. Just then, a maid entered.
"Your Highness, Xue Baochai from the Rongguo Mansion has come to pay her respects."

"Who, Xue Baochai?"

Just as they were getting into an interesting conversation, Princess Yongcheng frowned. Who was this Xue Baochai? Upon seeing this, Zou Xiao, who was beside her, immediately stepped forward and whispered in her ear.
“Master, this woman is from the Xue family and is temporarily residing in the Rongguo Mansion. Moreover, she is one of the concubines of Marquis Luoyun.”

After a brief explanation, Princess Yongcheng immediately recognized the woman. She was from the Xue family of Jinling City. Unfortunately, the Xue family had fallen into decline, and their vast wealth had ended up in the hands of Marquis Luoyun. It was said that the Yunhai Bank in the capital was in this woman's possession.

"Let her in."

"Yes, master."

A moment later, the curtain moved.

Xue Baochai kept her eyes straight ahead and walked with composure. After entering the room, she first bowed and greeted Princess Yongcheng, and then went to Princess Zhou Xiangxue to pay her respects with great courtesy. Her demeanor was impeccable. Princess Zhou Xiangxue's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and she nodded slightly. A hint of approval flashed in her eyes. She was indeed a person of both talent and beauty.
"Alright, so it's a girl from the Xue family. Have a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Xue Baochai rose and offered another curtsy before carefully taking her seat.
"Second Princess, I didn't bring any gifts with me on this trip. However, a group of skilled craftsmen from beyond the Great Wall came to my residence and made some gold ornaments. Some of them are of the finest quality, and I brought them here specifically for Your Highnesses to take a look."

As she spoke, she took two sandalwood boxes from Wen Xing beside her and handed them over. Zou Xiao and Wei Shuyun stepped forward and each took one for their master and handed it to her.

Curious, the two princesses each opened their respective pieces and found them to be gold-inlaid jade. Princess Yongcheng held a golden branch and jade leaf, while the eldest princess held a golden cicada on a leaf, both lifelike and almost divine. However, the meaning behind their combined appearance remained unclear. A glint flashed in their eyes, and Princess Yongcheng smiled.
"What a skilled craftsman! These golden branches and jade leaves are so lifelike, and they even have a peach with auspicious symbolism on them. I wonder what the golden cicada on the leaf in your hand means?"

With some suspicions in mind, he glanced at the beautiful woman before him and wondered if the Marquis's mansion had any reason to give him these gifts.

"Look at what you're saying, little sister. I thought the peaches of fortune and prosperity in your hand were auspicious, and the cicada on the leaf, is there any significance to that?"

His gaze fell on Xue Baochai, and he asked her casually. Xue Baochai curtsied, gave a deep bow, and replied.
"Your Highness, this signifies wealth and good fortune. Although I am not well-educated, I do know the saying 'golden branch and jade leaf'."

He remained silent and was even looked up to by the two princesses, showing that he knew how to advance and retreat.

Just as I was about to ask a few more questions, the curtain outside the door moved again.

Several princes' heirs all entered respectfully and performed the kneeling ceremony.
"Nephew greets the First and Second Imperial Aunts,"

The group huddled together, showering each other with respectful words, showing no intention of enjoying their leisure time outside.
"Get up. It's rare to see you all here to join in the fun. Why don't you stay inside and sit for a while?"

Watching their demeanor, Princess Zhou Xiangxue remained expressionless, while only Princess Yongcheng, Zhou Ying, showed a strange glint in her eyes. These people still had the mood to come here?

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After bowing, the group quickly rose and took their seats in the first seat on the left side of the west side. Just then, they saw Xue Baochai opposite them, and a questioning look flashed in their eyes. However, neither of the two princes in the room seemed inclined to speak.

After finishing a cup of tea,
The sound of clanging copper echoed in the courtyard.
Then, the maids began to set up banquets in each room, so that the guests would gather in groups of four or five and sit together. At the beginning of the gathering, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Princess Yongcheng, Zhou Ying, ordered someone to present the newly tribute "Snow-capped Jade" from the palace, inviting everyone to taste and comment. Two tables were set up in the inner hall; one was for the princes to sit on, and the other for her and the eldest princess.
Upon seeing this, Xue Baochai hurriedly rose to take her leave, but was stopped by Princess Zhou Xiangxue.
"Why leave? Sit down with me and try the local dishes."

Princess Zhou Ying of Yongcheng said with a smile:

“Sister is right. Once you’re here, you’re a guest. Besides, the Marquis of Luoyun’s family isn’t an outsider.”

Xue Baochai hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Thank you, Your Highnesses. I will obey your command."

They sat down at the small table.

When the maidservants brought out a table full of delicacies, Zhou Xiangxue was the first to pick up her chopsticks, took a piece of crispy pork, tasted it, and praised it:

"The aroma is long-lasting and leaves a pleasant aftertaste; it's quite good."

He swallowed the meat in his mouth, his gaze sweeping over the people feasting in the garden, and asked seemingly casually:

"I heard that news came from beyond the pass a few days ago? Marquis Luoyun is indeed brave, marching day and night."

With this remark,
Several princes who had been listening intently suddenly perked up their chopsticks and their eyes all turned to the Princess's table. The dishes on their own tables suddenly seemed tasteless.

Zhou Ying's smile remained unchanged, but a barely perceptible hint of probing flashed in her eyes.

"Sister, you are very well-informed. It's not good for news from here to reach the capital. I wonder if Sister Xue knows anything about the Marquis?"

He pretended not to know and casually mentioned it, but Xue Baochai remained calm, shook her head, and replied;

"In response to Your Highnesses, the Marquis did not return to his residence when he left the capital. I do not know the specifics."

Her puzzled look seemed genuine, and those inside immediately understood: this woman was unaware of the inner workings of the Marquis's mansion.

"If you don't know, you don't know. News from beyond the Great Wall takes a long time to reach the capital. The Jurchens are ruthless. With this westward advance, we don't know when the war will be over."

Zhou Xiangxue sighed, picked up the bowl of porridge and started drinking. The room fell silent again. The young masters probably had a lot to ask, but they exchanged glances and none of them spoke. They should have known better than to come to the room.

"Brother Zhengbai, I wonder if you've eaten your fill?"

Zhou Yewen gave him a wink, and the others, sensing an opportunity, all nodded.

"We're full, shall we leave?"

Zhou Xingshan pointed outside, but of the table full of food, only one plate of crispy pork had been touched. Seeing that an agreement had been reached, everyone stood up, went to the inner hall, bowed, and said in unison.
"Your Majesty, we have been waiting for a long time. We still need to go back to the Court of State Ceremonial to report for duty."

But after half a day, there was still no reply.
Just as the princes stood awkwardly in the main hall.

Only then did a faint voice come through.

"Okay, now that we're full, let's go back."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. We will take our leave now."

Almost the instant he stood up, he turned and left.
Inside the Guanchao Pavilion.

The young ladies from noble families gathered together, sitting around a table in small groups. The atmosphere was relatively relaxed as they admired flowers, sipped tea, and chatted about their private lives. Downstairs were the sons of noble families. Although some showed off their literary talents, most of them were more restrained due to the presence of two princesses.

Jia Baoyu and his group moved a table to the downstairs corridor and started playing drinking games with their classmates.

Just as everyone was discussing the latest trends in the capital, two young ladies dressed in plain clothes came gracefully in, led by their maids. One was wearing a bright and flamboyant red satin dress with gold butterflies and flowers, and was none other than Meng Yueyun, the eldest daughter of the Meng family. The other was wearing a moon-white brocade dress embroidered with magnolia branches and had a cool and aloof temperament; she was Feng Taiying, the daughter of the Feng family.

After the two arrived, they sat alone in a corner. Meng Yueyun was fine, but Feng Taiying looked distressed.

After Meng Yueyun sat down, she took the tea offered by the maid, looked around, and her gaze fell on Jia Baoyu. She was taken aback, not expecting him to come. Looking at the young men around her, most of them were illegitimate sons of the Earl's family. It seemed that studying at the Imperial Academy was a good thing. After the maid served tea and snacks, she asked.

"Sister, don't worry too much. Since the Marquis's mansion has vouched for him, Xu Changwen should be out of danger."

The case of Xu Changwen has attracted the attention of the entire court. Although the cabinet has made a decision, there is still no conclusion on how to convict him. It is clear that the case has been full of twists and turns. Thinking of the Jia family of Ningguo Mansion, Meng Yueyun felt an indescribable disgust.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, sister. I don't know if it's because I'm unlucky, but my reputation has been damaged by this. There are even rumors that I'm a jinx to my husbands. If things don't turn out well this time, I've decided to become a nun and end my life."

Although Feng Taiying was beautiful, she possessed a heroic spirit that was etched on her face, giving her a resolute expression. Meng Yueyun's heart trembled, and she said urgently.
“Sister, you must not do that. Not to mention that Uncle Feng has worked so hard and cared for you so much, this calamity may well be a blessing in disguise. Since Marquis Luoyun has taken over this case, there will surely be a good outcome. Besides, this marriage is guaranteed by Marquis Luoyun. If you were to become a nun and marry Uncle Feng, it might not be a good thing.”

Things in the capital are always rumored, but this time, the marriage of the Feng family was guaranteed by Marquis Luoyun, so even if there are some gossips, no one dares to say them in front of them.

Seeing Meng Yueyun's anxiety, Feng Taiying felt a warmth in his heart and smiled slightly. He finally smiled, but when he thought of his father's sighing face, he felt guilty.

"What my sister says is true; it's just that I'm being a bit dramatic."

Her eyes immediately reddened, and tears welled up.
(End of this chapter)