The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 690 He did it
In the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the Grand View Garden is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, but it is much more desolate and quiet than in previous years, and it is no longer the grand scene of all the beauties gathering together.

Jia Yingchun has left home, Baochai and Daiyu have gone west to Hami, Xiangyun is still missing, and even Miaoyu from Longcui Nunnery has moved away for some unknown reason. Jia Huan is also not here. So at this time, the Grand View Garden is almost half empty, with lonely windows and desolate steps.

Today is the third day of the eighth lunar month, which happens to be Grandmother Jia's birthday. Although the mansion has invited an opera troupe to perform as in previous years, Jia Tanchun is not very interested and feels that something is missing. Everyone, including Grandmother Jia, is listless. They listened to a few plays and then dispersed to go home.

It is worth mentioning that in the six months since Jia Huan left the capital at the beginning of the year, two events, neither major nor minor, have occurred in the Jia family. The first was that Jin Chuan, the head maid serving Lady Wang, suddenly committed suicide by jumping into a well; the second was the death of Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng was a competitive and controlling woman, even dominating her husband, not to mention others; otherwise, she wouldn't have had that fierce battle with Jia Huan. After the Emperor Emeritus's failed restoration and the extermination of the Wang family, Wang Xifeng was also sent to the brothel. Although she was later redeemed by Jia Huan along with Baochai and Aunt Xue, her lowly status could not be erased. Her husband, Jia Lian, had a broken relationship with her and they were like strangers; he even divorced her before his exile.

Having lived a life of glory and unwavering ambition, how could Wang Xifeng bear such a setback? Depression welled up and gradually led to illness. Last month, her condition suddenly worsened, and she finally passed away. Out of pity, Grandmother Jia ordered that Wang Xifeng's body be collected and transported by boat back to Jinling for burial.

This can be seen as echoing the prophecy about Wang Xifeng in *Dream of the Red Chamber*: "A common bird comes from a decadent age, yet all know to cherish its talent. One command, two orders, three orders—all become wood; weeping towards Jinling, the tragedy deepens."

As for Jin Chuan'er, she left a month earlier than Wang Xifeng. It is said that she committed suicide by throwing herself into a well after being kicked out of the mansion by the mistress. However, the reason why the mistress suddenly kicked Jin Chuan'er out of the mansion is a secret that everyone keeps quiet about. In any case, Wang Xifeng was depressed for a long time afterward. Miaoyu from Longcui Nunnery also moved away from the Jia family soon after. What secrets were behind this remains unknown.

Enough of this digression, let's get back to the main topic. After leaving Grandmother Jia's room, Jia Tanchun returned to the Grand View Garden alone. Bored, she wandered aimlessly along the garden paths and unknowingly arrived at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Outside the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, towering green bamboos stretched as far as the eye could see, their leaves scattered on the ground. A gust of wind caused the branches and leaves to sway and rustle, the bamboo stalks rubbing against each other with a creaking sound. Sunlight filtered down, casting dappled shadows, making the scene even more desolate and lonely. Thinking of old friends and past events, a sense of sadness was added to the atmosphere.
Jia Tanchun sighed and said softly, "Huan-di should have already sent Sister Lin and Sister Bao to Hami by now. I wonder how they are doing now?"

The maidservant Shishu, who was following behind her, gently comforted her, "It's all fate, just like the Second Mistress Lian and Jin Chuan'er who have passed away. It was ordained by Heaven and beyond human control. Miss, why don't you try to think more positively?"

"Is it all predestined?" Jia Tanchun said with a self-deprecating tone, "Then what is our fate? Where will we end up?"

The maid shook her head blankly and said, "This servant doesn't know either."

Just then, a person suddenly emerged from behind the bamboo tree, laughing and saying, "Third Sister's fate is to marry a rich man, and Shishu will naturally enjoy happiness with her master."

Jia Tanchun and Shishu were both startled. Upon closer inspection, they realized that the person who had come was none other than the clever and mischievous Xue Baoqin.

Xue Baoqin was a year younger than Jia Huan, and was just reaching the age of marriage. Now she was even more beautiful with bright eyes and white teeth.

Jia Tanchun laughed and scolded, "Who do we have here? It's you, you little rascal! You must have been hiding here to scare people."

Xue Baoqin said with a smile, "I'm so wronged! I just happened to be passing by and saw that Third Sister was a little down, so I thought I'd give you a surprise."

Shi Shu patted her chest and said, "More like being frightened. It's so gloomy here. If someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere, I would have been scared to death by you, Miss Qin, if I were alone." Xue Baoqin laughed and said, "Sister Shi Shu, you're so timid. Well then, come here. I'll give you some saliva to put on your face and you'll be fine. This is a remedy taught by the elders in the family. It always works."

"Go to hell!" the maid said with a light laugh.

Xue Baoqin stepped forward and affectionately took Jia Tanchun's hand, smiling as she asked, "Third Sister, do you still remember the game we used to play where we picked flower slips? What was written on the flower slip you picked that time?"

Shi Shu clapped her hands and said eagerly, "This servant still remembers. The flower is called apricot blossom. Red apricots by the sun are planted against the clouds. Those who draw this fortune slip are destined to have a noble husband."

Xue Baoqin chuckled and said, "That's right! I'm not making this up. Third Sister is going to marry a nobleman in the future. Oh, your family already has a concubine, do you want another one?"

Jia Tanchun's pretty face turned red, and she reached out to tear Baoqin's mouth, scolding, "You still dare to say that? You can take such nonsense seriously? I'll tear your mouth off!"

As the two were joking around, Lin Zhixiao's wife came over excitedly and said with a smile, "So the Third Miss is here. I've been looking for her for ages."

Jia Tanchun frowned and asked, "What happened?"

Now, Jia Tanchun has replaced Lin Xifeng in her role, assisting Lady Wang in managing the inner quarters of the Jia family. Therefore, the head maids below will report to her when there are any issues, and let her make decisions.

Lin Zhixiao's wife laughed and said, "Good news, great news! The Empress from the palace just sent someone to announce the good news and gave us a reward."

Jia Tanchun asked in surprise, "Today is the old lady's birthday, and the Empress has already given her a reward."

Lin Zhixiao's wife said happily, "That's another great thing. Our Third Master Huan has made another great contribution."

Jia Tanchun was slightly startled, and Xue Baoqin beside her also had her eyes light up, asking in unison, "What great achievement?"

Lin Zhixiao's wife, beaming with joy, recounted how Jia Huan had captured Hami City and been appointed Governor of Gansu by the Emperor.

Jia Tanchun was overjoyed and almost jumped for joy. Then she burst into tears, repeatedly saying, "That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"

"He did it! Brother Huan did it!"

At this moment, Xue Baoqin's bright eyes were shining. She remembered that her brother Huan had promised her and her aunt that he would bring her sister back safely. Now, he had indeed done it!
For the past six months, Xue Baoqin had been pondering how Jia Huan would ultimately fulfill his promise and bring Baochai and Lin Daiyu back safely from Hami. Now she finally understood: Brother Huan was truly remarkable; he had done it, and done it exceptionally well!
(End of this chapter)