The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 714 The Cure
Both Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were well-bred young ladies raised under the influence of feudal ethics. Although both were exceptionally talented and beautiful, their personalities were quite different. Lin Daiyu was aloof and proud, daring to love and hate, and pursuing freedom in love and marriage. If judged by feudal moral standards, she could even be called "rebellious." But it is precisely this trait that makes Lin Daiyu stand out and possess a rare and precious charm.

Xue Baochai, on the other hand, was the opposite. She was a virtuous wife and loving mother according to feudal traditional standards. She was reserved and introverted, adaptable and compliant. Although she longed for love, she followed the rules and dared not cross the line. In marriage, she adhered to the ancient precept of "arranged marriage by parents and matchmakers". If it weren't for Jia Huan's amazing time-traveling halo, it would have been a fantasy to win over both Baochai and Daiyu at the same time.

Now that Baochai has taken the initiative to offer a kiss, although it was an action that was taken involuntarily under the influence of emotions, considering that the two maids Ying'er and Xiangling were also present, it can be said to be a great "progress" for the usually reserved and demure Baochai.

However, Jia seemed unsatisfied and shamelessly brought her other cheek closer, laughing, "Good sister, don't be biased, this side also has its pride."

Xiangling and Ying'er spat lightly, their faces flushed, and turned away to cover their mouths and giggle. Baochai, worn down by someone's teasing, had no choice but to suppress her shyness and satisfy him.

Overjoyed at his success, Jia grabbed Baochai by the waist and spun her around, startling her into a cry of surprise: "Brother Huan, stop fooling around! Put me down... cough cough!"

Jia Huan put Baochai down and was startled to see that her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was noticeably rapid. Xiangling quickly poured a cup of tea and said, "Miss, have some water."

Baochai took the cup and sipped twice, her complexion gradually returning to normal. Jia Huan asked worriedly, "Sister Bao, are you feeling unwell?"

Baochai forced a smile and said, "It's alright, Huan-di, don't worry."

Ying'er muttered, "These past few days, the young lady's old problem has flared up again, but she won't let me tell the Third Master."

Baochai glared at Ying'er and said, "This is a heat toxin I was born with. It flares up every year. What's the big deal? It'll be fine in a couple of days. You have to be so talkative. Huan-di is already busy enough every day. There's no need to let this distract him."

Jia Huan held Baochai's soft hand and said with a hint of reproach, "Although I am busy with official duties, Baochai's health is also important. If you feel unwell in the future, you must tell me. Have you taken the Cold Fragrance Pill?"

Xue Baochai felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, saying, "She took one pill yesterday and is almost fully recovered today."

"Ying'er, how many Cold Fragrance Pills are left?" Jia Huan turned and asked.

Ying'er said worriedly, "There's only one left."

Jia Huan's heart skipped a beat. When he set off from the capital at the beginning of this year, he had already instructed Lin Zhixiao to collect the stamens of flowers in all four seasons as well as frost, snow and dew. He wondered how the collection was going. If he couldn't collect them all this year, it would be a real problem.

Xue Baochai clearly saw Jia Huan's worry, and felt a warm glow in her heart. She gently comforted him with a smile, "Brother Huan, don't worry. Although my symptoms are a bit agonizing, they won't kill me. Even without the Cold Fragrance Pill, I'll just have to endure it for a few days and then I'll be fine."

"That's true, but seeing Sister Bao in pain makes me feel bad too. Alas, if only there were a way to cure Sister Bao's illness!" Jia Huan said, frowning.

Ying'er opened her mouth to speak, but Xue Baochai subtly stopped her with a look.

Jia Huan lingered in Baochai's room for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn before heading to Daiyu's place, where they had already agreed to have lunch the day before.

Ying'er watched Jia Huan leave, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Why didn't you tell Third Master that your illness only requires..."

Xue Baochai quickly covered Ying'er's mouth, her face flushed, and said urgently, "You still dare to say that? You shameless hussy, I have a face to lose!"

Seeing that Xue Baochai was getting anxious, Ying'er dared not be presumptuous any longer and quickly said, "This servant will not say anything, but there is only one Cold Fragrance Pill left, and we do not know when we can return to the capital. Does Miss intend to keep it a secret from Third Master?"

Xue Baochai blushed and said, "How can I say such a thing?"

Ying'er laughed and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, the young lady is determined to marry no one but Third Master, so what's wrong with telling him?"

Xiangling nodded in agreement, while Xue Baochai frowned and said, "That bald-headed monk is crazy, and we don't know if what he says is true or false. Anyway, just tell him not to spread it around, it's embarrassing."

Ying'er and Xiangling exchanged a glance and decided to drop the subject.

When Jia Huan arrived at Lin Daiyu's residence, the meal was already prepared. After he sat down, Zijuan habitually poured Jia Huan a glass of snow lotus wine. Xueyan, the maid, quickly took it away, blushing and whispering, "This wine is strong. Give Third Master something else to drink."

Jia Huan chuckled inwardly. This little maid, now you know how powerful Third Master is, huh? She used to pour me snow lotus tonic wine every day!

Lin Daiyu and Zijuan's cheeks were slightly flushed. It turned out that some time ago, after Xueyan served Jia Huan for a few days, she had told the two of them about her "encounter" in the Third Master's room. Now they both knew that Jia Huan's health was not only fine, but on the contrary, he was very strong. Xueyan, the maid, could not even walk properly when she first returned.

After Jia Huan had lunch with Daiyu and chatted for a while, he returned to the governor's office to handle official business. As a result, in the evening, his soon-to-be brother-in-law Xue Pan came to his door eagerly, presenting him with a map as if it were a treasure.

Jia Huan asked curiously, "What is this?"

Xue Pan laughed and said, "This is a map I drew myself. I marked all the places suitable for building post towns from Jiayuguan to Hami on it. Brother-in-law... cough cough, Your Excellency, please take a look and see if it is appropriate."

When Jia Huan took the drawing, he found that it was drawn crookedly and the handwriting was very messy, but it was still legible. He then carefully considered it and asked Xue Pan in detail about the reasons for choosing this location. The latter answered fluently, showing that he was well-prepared and not just making a rash decision on a whim.

At this moment, Jia Huan's slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. Although Xue Pan had changed a lot, it seemed unreliable that he had given such a site selection so quickly without conducting an on-site investigation. Now, after asking, he learned that Xue Pan was very familiar with the terrain and knew exactly where the mountains and water sources were.

Xue Pan suggested as many as six locations, but after careful consideration, Jia Huan ultimately adopted four. The distance from Jiayuguan to Hami is over 1200 li. Building four new post towns would mean there would be a rest stop every 200 li. Once the post towns and roads are completed, it will be much more convenient and faster for merchants and military supplies to travel, and the Jin Dynasty's control over the Hami region will be strengthened like never before.

As the saying goes, only after being caught in the rain do you know the bitterness of weathering the storm. Xue Pan has tasted the hardships and sorrows of life in recent years, and has shed all his playboy habits. Now he has become mature and steady, and naturally he cherishes the job that Jia Huan arranged for him. At this moment, he is full of enthusiasm and energy. When he saw that Jia Huan agreed to four of the site selections, he couldn't help but dance with joy.

"Good brother-in-law, don't worry, I will definitely do a good job and will never let you and my sister down," Xue Pan said, rubbing his hands together. Jia Huan nodded and said, "Come here tomorrow to pick up the official document of appointment. At that time, I will allocate funds and manpower to you. First, build up this post town near Jiayuguan. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Once the first post town is built, the rest will be much easier."

Jia Huan is not short of funds now. The two million taels of treasure "taken" from the Hami royal palace treasury will come in handy. It is more than enough to build four small post towns. There is no need to apply to the court for funds. He only needs to submit a memorial explaining the situation.

Xue Pan was about to leave happily when he suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, dear brother-in-law, I noticed at noon that my sister didn't look well and coughed a few times. Is it that her old ailment has flared up again?"

Jia Huan nodded and said, "That's right. I took a Cold Fragrance Pill yesterday and I'm feeling better today. But I only have one Cold Fragrance Pill left. I haven't made a new one yet. What should I do if I get sick again? I'm really worried about this."

Xue Pan rolled his eyes and said mysteriously, "Actually, dear brother-in-law, you don't need to worry. This problem is easy to solve."

Jia Huan was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, "How can we solve this?"

Xue Pan glanced around and, seeing that no one was around, lowered his voice and said, "My sister's illness is a heat toxin that she was born with. Although it doesn't kill her when it flares up, it makes her feel very uncomfortable, unable to eat or sleep, and sometimes even has difficulty breathing. Back then, we consulted many doctors and took countless expensive medicines, but nothing worked."

Later, a bald-headed monk came and gave my father some kind of magic formula from the sea. At the time, my father didn't quite believe it, but with a try-it-out mentality, he made the Cold Fragrance Pill according to the formula. After my sister took it, it really worked wonders.

However, this prescription is too difficult to prepare; it won't be easy to make a single dose. But the bald-headed monk said that once my sister gets married and consummates her marriage, this illness will be cured without any medicine.

Jia Huan was taken aback and blurted out, "Really?"

Xue Pan scratched his big head and said, "This is what my late father told me on his deathbed. Although that bald-headed monk was slovenly and crazy, the prescription he gave was indeed effective. I'm sure there's no doubt about it. My sister's illness was originally a kind of heat toxin that she was born with. After marriage, the yin and yang of men and women will be in harmony, and perhaps the illness will really be cured."

Jia Huan suddenly realized that it was no wonder that when Ying'er was in Baochai's room, she seemed to be stopped by Baochai's wink. It turned out that this was the way to cure her. It was normal for Baochai to be ashamed to speak.

Xue Pan chuckled again and said, "If that bald-headed monk wasn't lying, it doesn't matter if we lose the Cold Fragrance Pill. Brother Huan just needs to marry his sister and consummate the marriage."

Jia Huan coughed lightly and said, "Well... let's talk about it later!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan became anxious and glared at him, saying, "What do you mean by 'we'll talk about it later'? Brother Huan, you wouldn't be planning to start something and then abandon me, would you? Who else can my sister marry besides you now?"

Jia Huan was both amused and exasperated, and retorted, "Nonsense! Of course I also want to marry Sister Bao as soon as possible, but I must get the consent of my elders. The key is that I don't want to wrong Sister Bao. If we are to get married, it must be a proper marriage, carried into the house in a sedan chair carried by eight men."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan's face lit up with a smile. "I see. Good brother-in-law, I misunderstood you. But as the saying goes, a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders. Saving lives is like putting out a fire. If my sister really falls ill, there's nothing we can do. You two can consummate your marriage first, and then hold the proper wedding rites when you return to the capital. I believe the old lady, uncle, aunt, and my mother will understand."

"Well... we'll see!" Jia Huan coughed lightly. Even though he wasn't shy, his handsome face was a little hot at this moment. However, knowing that there was a way to help Baochai cure her illness, he felt relieved.

Just as Jia Huan had sent Xue Pan away, Dong Jian came in to report: "Your Excellency, Princess Ayina has woken up."

Jia Huan nodded, stepped out of the hall, and headed towards Ayina's room.

That day, Ayina was seriously injured by an arrow to the head. Although she survived, she had been in a coma for the past few days and had a high fever. Her temperature only came down last night, and now that she has woken up, she should have made it through.

When Jia Huan arrived at Ayina's room where she was recuperating, he immediately smelled a strong medicinal odor. He waved his hand, and the two maids who were taking care of Ayina respectfully withdrew.

Ayina lay weakly on the bed. The once pretty and charming girl now looked pale and thin, with sunken eyes, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Lord Jia!" Ayina tried to rise and curtsy, but Jia Huan quickly pressed her shoulder down and smiled, "Your Highness is injured, there's no need for such formalities!"

Ayina said self-deprecatingly, "Lord Jia still calls me Princess?"

Jia Huan asked curiously, "Why can't she be called that? As long as the Emperor of our dynasty hasn't issued an edict to revoke the title of King of Hami, Ayina is still a princess."

Ayina said with a hint of sarcasm, "It's only a matter of time. Even the land of Hami will be incorporated into the territory of Jin. Congratulations, Lord Jia, on becoming a great contributor to the expansion of territory."

Jia Huan frowned and said, "Miss Ayina, don't overthink it. Focus on recovering from your injuries. Your life is your own; everything else is trivial except for life and death."

Ayina looked at Jia Huan in a daze, as if pondering his words. After a moment, she asked, "Shaanba is dead, what about my master?"

Jia Huan said bluntly, "He is dead, but he committed suicide by poisoning himself. He hid poison in his mouth. Before taking the poison, he begged me to spare his life."

Ayina's eyes reddened, tears welling up, but she stubbornly blinked them back, and said expressionlessly, "What does Lord Jia intend to do with me?"

"Let's not talk about this now, let's talk about it after you've recovered." Jia Huan stood up, threw a handkerchief on the bedside, and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute, how does Lord Jia intend to treat my people?" Ayina asked anxiously.

Jia Huan said calmly, "Like I said, let's not be calm now, let's talk about it after you've recovered." After saying that, he turned and left the room.

Ayina paused for a moment, then silently picked up the handkerchief Jia Huan had left by the bed. It looked new. After hesitating for a moment, she finally used the handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

(End of this chapter)