The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 751 Snow Falls This Night (Part 2)

It is precisely under the lamplight that a beauty becomes more and more captivating. Xue Baochai was already blessed with a beauty that could rival that of a nation, but under the lamplight, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Even the most exquisite descriptions like "the moon hides its face in shame" or "the fish sink in the water" would fall short of her beauty.

Her almond-shaped eyes were like shimmering autumn waves, her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms, her lips were red without lipstick, and her eyebrows were dark green without makeup. With her head slightly tilted and eyes lowered, her dignified and elegant temperament seemed to be innate, making her a delight to behold.

Jia Huan was momentarily captivated and couldn't help but blurt out, "Sister Bao looks so beautiful tonight!"

"Good Third Master, is it possible that my young lady only looks good tonight?" Ying'er, who was warming the wine, chuckled and said, while Xiangling covered her mouth and chuckled as well.

Xue Baochai's cheeks flushed instantly. She casually withdrew her hand from Jia Huan's grasp, coughed lightly, and changed the subject, saying, "Did Ping'er know that Huan-di came here alone?"

Jia Huan then came to his senses and nodded, saying, "Of course I know. By the way, Sister Bao, what's wrong? How many days have you been sick?"

Xue Baochai smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, just a slight cough. Huan-di, don't worry, it will subside in a few days. It's kind of you to come and visit me in the wind and snow."

Ying'er had already warmed a pot of yellow wine, poured a cup and came over to offer it to Jia Huan. She frowned and said, "Miss, your illness has been flaring up more frequently this year than before, and each time it lasts longer. In the past, even if you didn't take the Cold Fragrance Pill, it would pass after a few days. But this time it has been four or five days and there is still no sign of improvement. I can't even fall asleep at night."

Xue Baochai retorted, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be."

Ying'er sneered, "I'm afraid it's even more serious than what I'm saying. Miss didn't fall asleep until almost four o'clock last night, and she woke up again at five o'clock, saying that her chest felt tight and uncomfortable. Neither I nor Xiangling dared to sleep, and we took turns keeping watch over her all night."

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan was greatly shocked, not expecting the situation to be so serious, which could be life-threatening. He quickly grasped Baochai's soft hand and asked solemnly, "Sister Bao, is it really so?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xue Baochai's pretty face. Seeing Jia Huan so nervous and staring intently at her, she could only nod and give a soft "hmm" in acknowledgment.
Jia Huan frowned and scolded, "This situation is no laughing matter. Sister Bao should have told me sooner. If something had happened to her, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. Sister Bao, please don't do such a foolish thing again. You are afraid that I will worry, but you don't know that it is only natural for me to worry about you."

Xue Baochai's face burned with embarrassment. This was the first time Jia Huan had spoken to her in such a stern and domineering tone. Despite being scolded, she felt a warm glow inside.

Xiangling and Ying'er stuck out their tongues in surprise. It was the first time they had ever seen Jia Huan get angry at their young lady. However, this only proved that Third Master Huan was very worried about his young lady.

"Good brother Huan, I was wrong. I will not hide it from you from now on!" Xue Baochai said apologetically.

"Really? Is there anything else that Sister Bao is hiding from me?" Jia Huan stared intently at Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai was taken aback, then shook her head and said, "When have I ever hidden anything from Huan-di?"

Jia Huan asked earnestly, "Really, there aren't any left?"

Xue Baochai's eyes darted around nervously, and she stammered, "No...no."

“Young lady, just tell Third Master, your illness is actually…”

Xue Baochai said in embarrassment and haste, "Ying'er, don't talk nonsense."

Ying'er had no choice but to swallow her words, but Jia Huan made up his mind and sighed, "Actually, even if Sister Bao hadn't said anything, I would have known long ago."

Both Xue Baochai and Ying'er were taken aback. The former smiled somewhat awkwardly and asked, "What did Huan-di know all along?"

"Back in Hami, Brother Pan told me the way to completely cure Sister Bao's illness!"

Xue Baochai's pretty face flushed bright red instantly, all the way to her ears and neck, and she said in a trembling voice, "Big brother... told you?"

Jia Huan nodded, and Xue Baochai covered her face and fled back to the inner room as if she were escaping. It was too embarrassing. How could her elder brother do this!
Jia Huan had made up his mind and instructed Ying'er, "I won't be going back tonight. Please trouble Sister Ying'er to tell Ping'er and the others at Yuewei Residence."

"Ah... Oh, this servant will go right away!" Ying'er was stunned for two seconds before she reacted, blushing as she walked out, wearing her ski gear and heading straight for Yuewei Residence.

Xiangying, her face flushed, stammered, "This servant...this servant will go prepare hot water." She fled the room as if escaping, instructing the night watchwoman outside to leave, saying she didn't need to stand guard that night. Jia Huan entered the inner room. Baochai, having clearly overheard Jia Huan's words outside, was already restless. Seeing Jia Huan enter, she became even more flustered, her voice trembling as she said, "Brother Huan, it's late. I need to rest. You should go back."

Jia Huan yawned and said, "I'm sleepy too, so I'll stay in Sister Bao's room tonight."

Xue Baochai's heart pounded like a deer's, and she pleaded in her eyes, "Good Huan-di, please don't force me, okay? On the day we get married, I'll do whatever you want!"

Jia Huan was by no means a lustful person. The reason he acted this way was simply because he was worried that Baochai's illness would endanger her life. Seeing the latter's resistance, he couldn't help but soften his heart, sighed inwardly, and turned to walk away dejectedly.

Xue Baochai was raised with the traditional virtues of obedience to father, husband, and son, and was a typical young lady from a feudal family. She felt guilty about even dating freely and kissing before marriage, so it was naturally difficult for her to accept having sex before marriage.

However, seeing Jia Huan turn away with a dejected expression, Xue Baochai felt as if her heart had been stabbed. She couldn't breathe, her face turned red, and she slowly collapsed to the ground.

Hearing the sound of something falling behind him, Jia Huan turned around and saw Baochai sitting on the ground, one hand holding the edge of the bed and the other clutching her chest, looking like she was in great pain. He was so frightened that he rushed over and patted her back while urgently saying, "Sister Bao, relax, don't tense up!"

Xue Baochai gasped for breath for a while, but her tense body gradually relaxed, and her breathing became calmer.

After Jia Huan calmed down a bit, he picked up Xue Baochai, carefully placed her on the bed, and asked softly, "How are you feeling now, Sister Bao?"

Xue Baochai's sudden illness was triggered by her emotional agitation. Now that she had calmed down, her breathing naturally became smoother. Seeing Jia Huan sweating profusely, she couldn't help but feel a surge of tenderness in her heart. She couldn't help but hug Jia Huan's waist and whispered, "Brother Huan, are you angry with me?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "It's nothing, Sister Bao is overthinking it. Sister is so kind and respectful, how could I be angry? Sister, please rest well. I'll go and call Xiangling to serve you."

Xue Baochai, however, clung to Jia Huan's waist, biting her lip as if she had made up her mind, and whispered, "Brother Huan, you should rest here tonight!"

Jia Huan was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Really? Cough... never mind, I'd better go back, so as not to make things difficult for Sister Bao."

Xue Baochai sat up and silently removed the hairpin from her hair, letting her long, flowing hair cascade down. Jia Huan's breath caught in his throat; it was the first time he had ever seen Baochai with her hair down, her dignified and gentle demeanor now tinged with a touch of allure.

"Sister Bao...you!" Jia Huan's throat was a little dry.

Xue Baochai gave a shy, soft shush, signaling Jia Huan to be quiet. Then she got out of bed and went to a cabinet to rummage through it. Jia Huan was curious when he saw Xue Baochai take out a pair of red candles.

Jia Huan then realized what was going on and quickly said, "Sister Bao is so thoughtful. Let me light it." He deftly took the red candle from Baochai's hand, lit it, and placed it on the candlestick.

Xue Baochai took out another bottle of wine, poured it into a tin pot, and placed it on a small stove to warm it. Jia Huan was very familiar with the aroma of the wine; it was the snow lotus wine that she had brought back from Hami.

Xue Baochai warmed the wine and poured two cups, taking one for herself and offering the other to Jia Huan.

Jia Huan asked curiously, "This wine is considered 'hot' in traditional Chinese medicine. Isn't it something that Sister Bao shouldn't drink?"

Xue Baochai blushed slightly and said shyly, "I really shouldn't drink too much, but a little tonight won't hurt."

Jia Huan's heart skipped a beat, and he raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

After drinking a cup of wine, Xue Baochai's pretty face became even more radiant, like a spring flower. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled as if they could drip water. Her hands trembled slightly as she helped Jia Huan undress, and then she silently took off her own outer garment, revealing her slender and graceful waist.

Under Jia Huan's gaze, Baochai could no longer contain her shyness. She took the lead in getting into bed, covered herself with the quilt, and said bashfully, "Brother Huan, please put out the candles before you come up."

Jia Huan simply extinguished the oil lamp, leaving the red candle burning brightly, then nimbly lowered the bed curtains and slipped into bed...

That night, the candlelight flickered gently, and the only sound outside was the soft rustling of falling snow.

(End of this chapter)