The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 577: King Min's Matchmaking
The woman in gorgeous dress who came out from behind the screen at this moment was naturally Jia Yingchun. She was frightened by the broken cup at first, and then she saw a man standing up excitedly and staring at her infatuatedly. Her cheeks turned red and she raised her sleeves to cover her face in embarrassment.

Xu Wenhou said with a smile, "This is Brother Jia's second sister, Miss Yingchun. Liu Shouzheng, please make sure you recognize the wrong person. Please sit down quickly. It's not too rude of you, beautiful lady."

Liu Yi was stunned for a moment, then his handsome face flushed. He clasped his fists and bowed: "It turns out to be Miss Jia Er, I am sorry for being rude." Then he sat down awkwardly.

Jia Yingchun put down her sleeves, glanced at Liu Yi quickly, and shyly went forward to pour the wine, but Jia Huan snatched it away and said with a smile, "Let me do it, second sister, sit for a while."

"Brother Huan, I..."

"Sister Yingchun, please sit down. There's no need to be so polite." Xu Wenhou said with a smile, "These two are my good friends. Brother Jia, you must know them. This one is the new top scholar Liu Yi, whose courtesy name is Shouzheng. Like Brother Jia, he is also a talented scholar in our Great Jin."

Jia Yingchun bowed awkwardly and said, "My humble servant... greets Mr. Liu."

Liu Yi hurriedly stood up to return the greeting, and was obviously a little flustered and in a trance. Jia Yingchun sat for a while and then retreated with a blushing face.

"Stop looking at it. Your eyeballs will fall out if you keep looking at it." Xu Wenhou snorted sarcastically.

Liu Yi then awkwardly withdrew his gaze from watching Jia Yingchun leave, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Ziming. I didn't mean to offend Miss Yingchun, but Miss Yingchun and Wanruo look too much alike. When I first saw the portrait, I felt that they were about 70% similar, but I didn't expect that the real people were even more similar, almost exactly the same."

Xu Wenhou smiled complacently. Of course, today Jia Yingchun's makeup, clothing, and even the style of her hair were all based on Sister Wanruo's usual look. Originally, they were only 70% or 80% similar, but with this outfit, they became 90% similar. No wonder Liu Yi thought it was Qi Wanruo herself at first glance.

Jia Huan now fully understood Xu Wenhou's intention. In fact, he had intended to bring Jia Yingchun and Liu Yi together, but with Jia She and Madam Xing as troublemakers, it was hard to say. Now Yingchun had been demoted to a lowly status. Even if Liu Yi agreed, I'm afraid the Liu family would not agree to him marrying a traitor's concubine's daughter.

"Thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Min for taking care of my second sister for many days. I plan to take her back home today. I wonder if it is convenient?" Jia Huan asked.

Xu Wenhou's fat face fell, and he said unhappily: "Brother Jia, are you still afraid that I will treat Sister Yingchun badly?"

Jia Huan sweated secretly and shook his head, saying, "That's not what I meant. It's just that the old lady misses my second sister very much. Besides, my second sister hasn't married yet. It's not appropriate for her to always live in Prince Min's mansion. I'm afraid it will attract criticism."

Xu Wenhou rolled his eyes and said, "What's inappropriate? Miss Yingchun is my sister now. Oh, I forgot to tell Brother Jia that Sister Yingchun looks a lot like Sister Wanruo. When my aunt saw her, she thought it was Sister Wanruo who had come back to life. She was so sad that she immediately adopted her as her adopted daughter. By the way, I have already helped Sister Yingchun get rid of her music status."

Jia Huan was stunned. He didn't expect Xu Wenhou to act so quickly. Not only did he help Jia Yingchun get rid of her status as a musician, he also took her to meet his aunt and recognized her as a relative.

It is said that Xu Wenhou's biological mother was Concubine Qi, and his uncle was Qi Qin, the wine collector of the Imperial Academy. On that day, the emperor restored power in Wenhua Hall and controlled all the officials present. Qi Qin accused and scolded the emperor in public, and was beaten with fifty sticks and died on the spot.

After Emperor Qiansheng put down the rebellion, he posthumously conferred the title of Marquis of Yong'an on Qi Qin, and posthumously awarded him the title of Prince's Junior Tutor. Madam Qi was also promoted to the rank of First-Rank Lady. Now that Jia Yingchun was no longer a member of the entertainment industry and was adopted as a daughter by Madam Qi, her status was naturally higher than that of the former concubine of the Jia family's eldest daughter.

So from this it can be seen that Xu Wenhou and his cousin Qi Wanruo indeed had a very deep relationship, and he took great pains to make such arrangements just because Jia Yingchun looked like Qi Wanruo.

Liu Yi naturally understood Xu Wenhou's intention at this time, and his mood was inexplicably complicated. Although he and Qi Wanruo were childhood sweethearts and they loved each other, Jia Yingchun was not Qi Wanruo after all. Even if she looked like her, she was not her. In his heart, Wanruo had already died in Hami.

Thinking of this, Liu Yi felt a pang of pain in his heart and was depressed. He just lowered his head and drank silently.

Xu Wenhou was obviously very unhappy when he saw this. He had put in so much effort, but this was the only reaction he got. So he slammed the table and pointed at Liu Yi and cursed, "Liu Shouzheng, you are so dejected. What do you mean?"

Liu Yi was startled and said in astonishment: "How did I displease His Royal Highness Prince Min?"

Xu Wenhou said angrily: "I have good intentions, why are you looking so stern? I have already built the bridge for you, don't be so rude!"

Jia Huan couldn't help but break into a sweat. After escaping death last time, this little fat boy seemed to have been reborn. At least he looked quite domineering now.

Liu Yi shook his head and said, "Although Miss Yingchun looks very much like Miss Wanruo, she is not her after all."

Xu Wenhou cursed with red eyes: "Nonsense, I know it's not her, but Sister Wanruo is gone, the dead cannot be resurrected, are you going to stay single for the rest of your life?"

Liu Yi remained silent, drinking with his head down. Xu Wenhou was so angry that he grabbed the former's collar and roared angrily: "Liu Shouzheng, listen to me, you have to marry Sister Yingchun whether you want to or not. Ask a matchmaker to come to your house tomorrow to propose marriage, otherwise you will bear the consequences yourself."

Jia Huan stood there in a daze, dumbfounded.

"Why?" Liu Yi looked at Xu Wenhou, whose face was distorted by anger, in confusion.

"Because this is what Sister Wanruo specifically told me before she left for the marriage. She advised you to let it go and find a good woman to start a family and build a career." Xu Wenhou actually burst into tears as he spoke, wiping his tears and said, "It's all my fault for being too cowardly. I didn't dare to stand up and oppose the marriage. If I had been brave enough to plead with my father at that time, Sister Wanruo might not have to go to Hami for the marriage." Liu Yi held his head in pain, picked up the wine jug and gulped it down. Then he stood up and staggered out of Zhuijin Pavilion.

Xu Wenhou did not stop him, but sat down dejectedly, and said bitterly: "Brother Jia, in order to fulfill Sister Wanruo's wishes before her death, am I too selfish and too unreasonable?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "It is indeed a bit unreasonable, and it is not fair to Second Sister. Of course, if Second Sister is willing, it is another matter!"

Xu Wenhou smiled bitterly and said, "I thought the matter was too simple. Whatever, a forced melon is not sweet. Let nature take its course. Sister Yingchun's luggage has been prepared. You can take her back to the mansion later."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "Your Highness Prince Min, are you interested in hearing a story?"

Xu Wenhou was not in the mood to listen to stories at the moment, but he still nodded and said, "Tell me about it."

"It is said that at the end of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, people were living in poverty and heroes from all over the world rose up in rebellion. The two strongest rebel armies were Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang. The two fought a decisive battle at Poyang Lake..."

Xu Wenhou rolled his eyes and interrupted, "This is a matter of the previous dynasty. I have read it a long time ago. Chen Youliang defeated Zhu Yuanzhang and established the Chen Han Dynasty. The Chen Han Dynasty lasted only a hundred years before it was destroyed by the Tartars. Our dynasty's founder, Xu Jin, rose from humble beginnings and managed to turn the tide. He eventually drove out the Tartars and established the present Jin Dynasty."

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "Your Highness Prince Min, please listen to me in detail. In the Battle of Poyang Lake, Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Chen Youliang and established the Ming Dynasty."

Xu Wenhou frowned and said, "Hey, it was clearly Chen Youliang who defeated Zhu Yuanzhang and established the Chen Han regime. Brother Jia, you are going too far in tampering with history."

Jia Huan said with a smile: "So it is just a story. Your Highness Prince Min, just treat it as a story. Why take it too seriously?"

"Then go on!" Xu Wenhou immediately became interested. This kind of story was quite novel.

Jia Huan condensed the history of the Ming Dynasty, which lasted for more than 270 years, in real history and told it briefly.

Xu Wenhou was fascinated by what he heard. When he heard that Chongzhen was hanged on Coal Hill and the Ming Dynasty was destroyed by the Qing Dynasty, he was so angry that he slammed the table and cursed Emperor Chongzhen for being stupid and killing Yuan Chonghuan, the pillar of the country. He also cursed the "Dongshan (Donglin) Party" and the eunuch party for fighting against each other and bringing disaster to the country and the people.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "The change of dynasties is an eternal law, just like people have a lifespan. Every dynasty also has its lifespan, and eventually it escapes the end of its life. The Ming Dynasty lasted for nearly three hundred years, which is already very good. Emperor Chongzhen was originally a very diligent emperor, and he also tried very hard to save the Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, the country in the late Ming Dynasty was already corrupt, and coupled with natural disasters and man-made disasters, it was already hopeless!"

Xu Wenhou sighed, "At least he fulfilled the promise of our ancestors. He did not cede land, marry a princess, or pay compensation. The emperor guards the country's borders and the king dies for the country. I wish my Great Jin also had the ancestral precept of not marrying a princess. Then Sister Wanruo wouldn't have to marry a princess in Hami and die in a foreign land!"

Jia Huan looked at Xu Wenhou meaningfully and said, "If you are strong enough, the four barbarians will naturally submit to you. There is no need for a marriage alliance."

Xu Wenhou waved his fist and said, "Brother Jia, this makes sense!"

The two chatted for a while, and as the sun was about to set, Jia Huan stood up, said goodbye, and took Jia Yingchun away from Prince Min's Mansion.

The carriage was moving slowly on the stone-paved street. It was the first time that Jia Huan rode in the same carriage with Jia Yingchun. He asked tentatively, "What do you think of Liu Shouzheng, Second Sister?"

Jia Yingchun's face flushed, and she said shyly, "Very...good."

Jia Huan smiled and said bluntly, "If Liu Yi comes to propose marriage tomorrow, will Second Sister agree?"

Jia Yingchun blushed immediately, lowered her head and said softly: "My stepmother told me about Miss Wanruo. Miss Wanruo is well-educated, well-mannered, and full of knowledge. I am far inferior to her. I am afraid I am not worthy of Liu Hanlin."

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan understood Jia Yingchun's thoughts. It was not that he was unwilling, but he just felt ashamed of himself.

This is not surprising. Among the girls in the Grand View Garden, Jia Yingchun's talent and learning are indeed mediocre. She is also timid and cowardly, nicknamed "Wooden Head". She is also a concubine's daughter. Although she has now been removed from the list of musicians, she is still the daughter of a traitor. Having been to a place like the Jiaofangsi, she naturally feels even more inferior.

So Jia Huan smiled and comforted her: "Second sister, don't belittle yourself. With your appearance, and you are my second sister, you are more than qualified to be a good match for Liu Shouzheng."

"Ah?" Jia Yingchun looked at Jia Huan, her little mouth slightly opened into an "O" shape.

"Second sister, don't you think so?" Jia Huan said confidently.

Jia Yingchun's pretty face turned red again, her heart was warm, and she nodded imperceptibly.

(End of this chapter)