Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Jinling, Yuminfang.

Jia Cong's main room was brightly lit with candles, and the round marble table was filled with sumptuous vegetables and delicacies.

Qin Keqing and Qu Hongxiu sat next to Jia Cong. The three of them drank from their cups and chatted about daily gossip, having a great time.

These days, Jia Cong had finished his important affairs in Jinling and was living a leisurely and relaxed life.

During his daily time, he either stayed with the two of them at Yu Minfang, or went to Mingze Lane to visit Zou Miner's injuries.

Until the day before yesterday, Emperor Jia Zhao's reply arrived in Jinling, and tomorrow Jia Cong will set off to return to the capital to report the emperor's order.

Today's small banquet in the main room was a farewell party given by Qu Hongxiu and Qin Keqing to Jia Cong.

The two of them were each reluctant to part, but since the three of them were together, they didn't want to show it on their faces.

When there is separation in the world, only Du Kang can be found, not to mention when three people are sitting together. That kind of strange sweetness and ambiguity seems to make the wine more mellow.

The pot of wine was quickly finished, and the atmosphere at the table became more fragrant, soft and sweet.

Qu Hongxiu and Jia Cong both practiced martial arts since childhood, were in good health, and had a good alcohol tolerance.

But Qin Keqing was a weak girl in the boudoir and originally never drank alcohol. But when Jia Cong was about to leave, she let go of her reserve. After three rounds of wine and five or six cups, her pretty face was already flushed and her eyes were sleepy.

In the end, she couldn't even sit steadily, and leaned limply on Jia Cong, unconscious.

Qu Hongxiu was still in high spirits. As they were about to leave, she spoke softly and it seemed that she and Jia Cong had endless things to say.

She went over and helped Keqing to rest on the couch, then continued to drink and chat with Jia Cong.

Outside the window, the night gradually deepens. Everything is quiet except for the chirping of autumn insects in the yard.

Qu Hongxiu suddenly said, "Brother Cong, you will be old enough after the New Year. Maybe when you return to Beijing this time, your family will arrange a marriage for you."

"Sister Xiu, why do you want to bring this up?"

"Didn't Miss Yingchun's last letter mention the matter of the granted marriage? It can be seen that you have reached this stage in your family."

"You still want to chat with me now, but once you get engaged, I'm afraid you won't have me in your eyes anymore. Once you leave this time, I don't know when you'll come back next time."

Jia Cong could hear her trembling voice and her tone full of loneliness and sadness. Suddenly, he began to smell a little drunk and spoke incoherently.

"What are you talking about? Without Sister Xiu by my side all these years, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am so heartless."

Qu Hongxiu drank the wine in the cup, snorted, and said: "You just love to mess with girls. Today it's Miss Qin, tomorrow it's Miss Zou, you will definitely be a heartless person in the future..."

The reason why Qu Hongxiu said these words was because she had heard Jia Cong talk about Zou Miner's experience, and she also knew that he had helped Zou Miner get an identity through the Xinchun Suzhou branch, and even found a house for her to live in Suzhou.

Jia Cong told her that Xu Qinniang from Yao's Wine Shop in Xinghua Lane and many of his Jinling Zhongchesi staff had seen Zou Min'er.

Zou Min'er faked her death and escaped. If she wants to live a stable life in the future, she can no longer stay in Jinling. Otherwise, if she is not careful, Xu Qinnan will find out. The most appropriate way to settle her down is to choose a place to live.

Qu Hongxiu also knew that Zou Miner had left for Gusu for resettlement two days ago, and it was this little bastard who personally sent her out of the city.

Although she was jealous and didn't like Jia Cong's interest in another woman, she felt very sympathetic towards Zou Min'er's miserable situation, so she pretended to turn a blind eye to the matter, but she was always angry when she thought about it.

When Jia Cong saw her in the candlelight, she looked drunk and lazy, with a little sadness and anger, her eyes were as bright as stars, and she was infinitely beautiful. His heart could not help but beat wildly.

Seeing Jia Cong staring at her blankly, Qu Hongxiu was already about 70% drunk at this time, and said fiercely: "Why are you looking at me like that, little bastard, you are not up to no good."

Jia Cong's eyes were hazy with drunkenness. He looked at Qu Hongxiu's beautiful face and said, "Sister Xiu, are you wearing rose-scented rouge today?"

Qu Hongxiu bit her lip and said with a guilty conscience: "What... do you want to do now?"

A half-filled pot of wine on the table was suddenly knocked over, and the wine flowed all over the table, filling the room with the aroma of fine wine.

Under the flickering candlelight, two figures gradually embraced each other, with a mixture of panicked and intoxicated breathing, the embrace was as soft as a poem, and the rosy neck was fragrant.

Qu Hongxiu said in a slightly embarrassed and annoyed voice: "Brother Cong, you are not allowed to do this. You are doing this again. Next time... don't even think about me putting on rouge again."

……

In the early morning, the east was slightly bright.

Qin Keqing woke up and just wanted to get up, she felt a splitting headache from a hangover. She frowned and fell limply on the bed.

The bed I slept in felt a little strange. The color of the bed curtains was pine green, instead of the ivory white soft gauze curtains in my own room.

She suddenly realized that this was Jia Cong's bed. She was drunk yesterday and slept in his room. Her heart was beating like a drum and her body was half limp.

Hearing the even breathing beside her, she found that Jia Cong was sleeping next to her and snoring soundly. Her heart trembled and she couldn't help but reach out and touch his face.

Suddenly she felt something strange in her arms. When she looked clearly, her pretty face turned red. Jia Cong's right hand had been in her lapel, even gently grasping it.

Keqing was so shy that she felt weak all over. Just as her thoughts were drifting, she noticed the red rouge and scent of Jia Cong's lips. She felt a little strange and leaned over to smell it, but it didn't seem to be hers.

At this moment, I noticed something strange on the bed and almost screamed out in fright.

She saw Qu Hongxiu sleeping next to Jia Cong, her hair disheveled, her pretty face still flushed, as pretty as a rose, and one of her hands was around Jia Cong's waist, looking very intimate.

The buttons of Qu Hongxiu's jacket were mostly undone by someone, revealing a piece of snow-white silk embroidered bellyband, with a bright white halo, rugged and rugged peaks, and a wonderful appearance.

Last night, they were giving Jia Cong a practice. All three of them were drunk and slept in the same bed without knowing what was going on. No one knew if they had done anything wrong...

She bit her red lips, looking at Jia Cong who was sleeping soundly, and the warm palm in her arms. Anyway, it would be his sooner or later, so he could do whatever he wanted.

Keqing blushed and gently pulled Jia Cong's hand out of her clothes. Just this action woke up Qu Hongxiu who was sleeping next to Jia Cong.

She noticed something strange around her and sat up in fright. She saw Keqing, who was lying on the same bed, looking at her with fear in her beautiful eyes.

Qu Hongxiu's face flushed red, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide. She hurriedly buttoned her clothes to cover her pretty face, but saw Jia Cong still sleeping comfortably there.

I couldn't help but feel a little scared, but luckily this little bastard couldn't drink much. He drank quite a lot last night and kept hugging me and making a fuss. In the end, he might have passed out.

Otherwise, if the three of them do something wrong, they will never be able to face people again.

Thinking of this, Qu Hongxiu felt ashamed and angry, and wanted to grab Jia Cong's ears, but was protected by Keqing.

The two looked at each other, both felt their hearts fluttering and their bodies softened, and they ran out of the room with red faces.

……

Jinling, Taiping Gate.

The breeze blows on your face and the willows sway.

Today is the day Jia Cong leaves Jinling. As he has to pass through Gusu to pick up Zhishao and Miaoyu to return to Beijing together, he does not go the same way as Guo Lin.

He left the Taiping Gate and saw Qu Hongxiu and Qin Keqing off reluctantly, speaking sweet words to them, but they had to say goodbye eventually.

After Jia Cong rode away, the carriage stopped by the roadside, refusing to leave for a long time. The curtain was gently lifted, revealing two pretty faces as radiant as roses.

Looking at the dozen or so horses galloping and disappearing in the distance, Keqing couldn't help but shed tears.

"Sister Xiu, when do you think he will come back after he leaves?"

Qu Hongxiu comforted him, "Don't worry, Brother Cong values ​​friendship and has always cared about you. If he gets the chance, he will definitely come back to Nanjing to see us."

She thought about the hangover last night, the ridiculous thing they did on the same bed, and sleeping in each other's arms, and her pretty face flushed.

Jia Cong's handsome and dazzling face appeared before her, making her heart flutter.

Suddenly, this familiar face reminded her of the portrait she had hidden away, and the long-standing doubts inadvertently filled her mind again.

That time, Jia Cong told her that Xu Qinniang, who was originally a descendant of a hidden family, had actually become a backbone of the Jinling Central Chariot Company.

There is also the Jinling Du family who colluded with the Hidden Sect and intended to start an uprising in Jiangnan...

Jinling, the Du family, the Hidden Sect, and her younger brother Cong, there seemed to be a vague and unclear connection behind all of this.

But no matter who Jia Cong is, he is the same to Qu Hongxiu. After years of mutual support, he has long been the most important and closest person to her.

Back then in that dark cave, when the dazzling firelight illuminated them, from the moment they faced each other, their fate was destined.

……

After Jia Cong parted with Qu Hongxiu and Qin Keqing, he ran all the way, feeling depressed and empty.

After riding for less than half a mile, he saw Liu Xian, the manager of the second branch of the Zhen family, who had already stopped his horse and was waiting by the roadside.

When he saw Jia Cong appear, he rode forward and said, "Marquis Weiyuan, my third daughter knows that the marquis is returning to the capital today. As the funeral is not over at home, it is inconvenient for her to come in person. Let me see you off on your behalf.

The girl said that the master had made great achievements in Nanjing this time, and after returning to the capital, he would definitely be valued and rewarded by the emperor.

The Zhen family is under suspicion right now, and seeing you off in the city will attract attention. I am worried that it will bring slander to the uncle, so I was asked to wait halfway outside the city."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Your daughter is really thoughtful."

Liu Xian took out a brocade box beside him and said, "This is a parting gift from the third lady. The lady said that she would never forget the help from the uncle and wished the uncle a safe journey."

Jia Cong saw a frameless snow-fat jade crown in the brocade box. The carving was exquisite and made from a whole piece of the finest mutton-fat jade.

In the brocade box there was also a moon-white robe with dark floral patterns and a silver satin belt inlaid with gems. They were both daily wear, exquisite and noble, and very touching.

His heart moved slightly. The Great Zhou inherited the culture and customs of the Tang and Song dynasties. When a woman gave a hair crown to a man, it had an unusual meaning.

An old poem was circulated in the previous dynasty: I comb my hair and you comb my black hair. No one talks to me even though we are thousands of miles apart, but we are still in love.

Zhen Fangqing specially gave him a crown and robe as a gift, which did not look like an ordinary farewell salute at all.

Jia Cong thought of Yingchun mentioning the arranged marriage in her heart. He knew nothing about this matter before he received the letter.

But the arranged marriage originated from the Zhen family, so Zhen Fangqing must have known about it...

……

Jinling, west of Taiping Gate, Fuzhou Mountain.

Many tombs were built on the south-facing hillside. This place was picturesque and was a favorite burial place for many wealthy families in Jinling City.

On a hillside covered with lush grass, a beautiful and slim young woman, holding incense, candles and paper money in her hands, followed by a girl of seventeen or eighteen, was walking among the grave mounds.

The two men searched for a while among the tombs, and the young girl suddenly called out, "Manager Xu, I found Miss Zou's tomb. It's here." Since the matter of Zhou Zhengyang was settled and the major case of the Jinling Water Supervision Bureau was concluded, Jia Cong also left Jinling today.

The staff of the China Railway Company who were originally sent to various states along the Yangtze River, including Zhang Wu, Wu Maiqiao and others, also returned to Nanjing.

Xu Qinnan and Zou Miner worked together. She learned from Jia Cong that she was buried in Fuzhou Mountain. Today she brought Wu Maiqiao to pay her respects.

When they arrived at Zou Min'er's grave, they found another grave mound next to it. Looking at the words on the tombstone, they knew it was the grave of Zou Min'er's mother.

Both graves were swept very cleanly, without a single weed growing on the corners. This must be because someone had come to sweep the graves and pay their respects in the last few days.

In front of Mrs. Zou's tombstone, there was even a bunch of bright red flowers that looked like lilies. Although most of the flowers and leaves had withered, they must have been placed in front of the tomb in the last few days.

Wu Maiqiao looked at the two clean and tidy graves and sighed, "Weiyuan Bo is really a passionate man. Before leaving Jinling, he did not forget to sweep Miss Zou's grave and pay tribute to her."

The news that Zou Min'er was assassinated in Qingyin Pavilion had already spread throughout Jinling, and the story of her affair with Weiyuan Bo Jia Cong also spread in the market as a sexy topic of gossip.

Young girls like Wu Maiqiao are most interested in and enjoy talking about stories about a talented man and a beautiful woman who are a perfect match but end in tragedy, especially since the two people involved are people she is familiar with.

So, when she saw that the two graves were swept as new and there were flowers in front of the graves, she imagined that Jia Cong was about to go on a long journey, but he did not forget to sweep the grave of his beloved deceased female companion, and so on.

Xu Qinnan doesn't seem to have the same girlish feelings as Wu Maiqiao.

She cleaned the graves of Zou Min'er and her daughter, but she didn't pay much attention to it. However, she looked closely at the flowers in front of Mrs. Zou's grave.

She pointed at the flowers in front of Mrs. Zou's tombstone and said, "Mai Qiao, do you know what kind of flowers these are?"

Wu Maiqiao tilted her head to take a look and said, "This flower is bright red and very pretty. I don't know what kind of flower it is, but Weiyuan Bo is thoughtful to offer flowers in front of the grave when he visits the grave."

Xu Qiniang's eyes flickered as she said, "This is called the Yinan Grass. In the south of the Yangtze River, women who hope to give birth to a boy will place this flower in their bedroom to pray for a good omen.

The male grass has another name, daylily. "

Wu Maiqiao was very surprised and said with a smile: "This is obviously a flower, but it is called a grass name, and there is more than one name. It's really interesting that Shopkeeper Xu is also proficient in the knowledge of flowers and plants."

Xu Qiniang said: "I am not particularly proficient in flowers and plants, but I am familiar with this daylily. I am from Wukang, Huzhou. In my hometown, even three-year-old children know this daylily."

Wu Maiqiao was curious and asked, "Why is that?"

Xu Qiniang looked at the withered daylilies in front of Madam Zou's grave and said, "That's because Wukang produced a great poet in the early Tang Dynasty who left behind an ancient poem called "The Wandering Son".

Daylilies grow on the steps of the hall, and the wanderer travels to the ends of the earth. The loving mother leans against the door and looks out, but sees no daylilies.

This ancient poem is well-known in the streets of Wukang, and almost everyone can recite it. "

Wu Maiqiao was completely confused. She came from a poor family and could recognize a few words, which was rare. She knew nothing about poetry.

Xu Qinnan suddenly recited a poem to her, and she was completely confused and could not understand what the other person was saying.

Xu Qinnan seemed to be just chatting and did not continue talking to Wu Maiqiao. She just stared at Zou Miner's tombstone in a daze while burning paper money for her.

She had something else in her mind that she didn't tell Wu Maiqiao. In the Jiangnan area, daylilies represent a mother's kindness and are used by children to pay tribute to their mothers.

Even if Jia Cong was deeply in love with Zou Min'er, it is understandable that he cleaned Mrs. Zou's grave while visiting Zou Min'er's grave.

But there is absolutely no way he would place daylilies in front of Mrs. Zou's grave.

The only person in the world who would do this was Mrs. Zou’s only child, Zou Min’er. However, Zou Min’er had been assassinated in Qingyin Pavilion long ago, and her grave was right in front of them.

Xu Qinnan looked at Zou Miner's tombstone and felt a chill in her heart...

……

Suzhou, Heguangfang.

This is an ordinary market town in Gusu City, right next to the core area. It has a stable environment and is quiet in the midst of bustle.

Jia Cong walked through the ancient streets and alleys in the alley.

He had just arrived in Gusu this morning, and he asked Jiang Liu to take nine musket guards and settle down in an inn in the city first.

I went to visit Zou Min'er's residence alone.

Zou Min'er's residence in Gusu was specially arranged by Jia Cong for the Gusu branch of Xinchunhao in the city.

Taking into account Zou Miner's special status, her residence cannot be too noisy, and it must be convenient for daily convenience and easy for the Xinchunhao branch to provide care nearby.

For any items needed in the mansion, he asked Wang Dequan, who was in charge of the Suzhou branch, to choose the best purchasing equipment in Suzhou City.

A few days ago, Jia Cong saw that Zou Min'er's injuries had basically healed and she was no longer bothered by the long journey.

He sent capable personnel from the head office to send Zou Min'er and Lingguan to Suzhou for resettlement.

Seeing that Zou Min'er's injuries had healed, Zhang Youpeng was about to return to the capital, so Jia Cong asked him to pass by Yangzhou and treat Lin Ruhai who was ill.

Zhang Youpeng not only agreed immediately, but also showed his compassionate medical skills and set off for Yangzhou that day.

Jia Cong was overjoyed, as he felt a worry had been resolved. After returning to Beijing, he told Daiyu about it so that she could feel at ease.

……

Jia Cong walked through the streets and alleys for a long time, entered a small alley, stopped at the door of a quaint courtyard at the end of the alley, and gently knocked on the door.

After a while, footsteps were heard in the yard, and someone was lying on the ground looking out through the crack in the door.

Soon after the courtyard gate opened, Jia Cong saw Lingguan with a look of joy on her face, her eyes sparkling, and she was pretty and charming.

"Third Master, we are waiting for you to come!"

Lingguan took his hand and walked into the yard.

Jia Cong passed through the courtyard gate and turned around the screen wall. He saw Zou Min'er wearing a cloth dress and her long hair was wrapped in a piece of printed cloth. She was sweeping the fallen leaves in the yard.

Her hands are white and smooth, her figure is graceful, and her hair is flowing. She looks like a little lady in a cloth skirt and hairpins, and she looks very fresh and charming.

A little girl about the same age as Lingguan was sprinkling clean water on the area where Zou Miner was sweeping to cover up the slightly raised dust.

The daughters of officials in Jinling City in the past, or the lady of music with superb skills in Qingyin Pavilion, all seemed to have disappeared, leaving only the graceful woman who had washed away the worldly affairs.

The scene before him made Jia Cong slightly dazed.

When Zou Min'er heard footsteps, she looked up and her eyes met Jia Cong's. It seemed that there was a lingering longing that glued their eyes together.

The early autumn sunshine was dazzlingly bright, full of gentleness and tranquility. It shone on their bodies, creating two overlapping figures.

Jia Cong asked, "When you left Jinling, your waist was still a little stiff. Now that you are strong, are you doing these jobs?"

Zou Min'er smiled, swayed her slender waist in front of him, and turned around nimbly. Her skirt fluttered in the wind, like a water lily opening and closing in the light, pretty and eye-catching.

"When I left Beijing, Doctor Zhang said I had recovered. It was just that I had been lying in bed for too long, so my body was a little stiff. I just needed to do some light work and stretch my waist."

Jia Cong saw the little girl sprinkling water standing next to Zou Min'er, looking at Jia Cong curiously. She had a pretty, shy and childish appearance.

"Where is this little girl from?"

Zou Miner smiled and said, "This is the maid that the Gusu branch just bought. Her name is Shuanghe. Shopkeeper Qu from Jinling specifically asked her to come and serve me. Please thank Shopkeeper Qu for me when you see him."

Jia Cong thought about the night he drank with Qu Hongxiu, and how he was attracted to Zou Miner. She even complained that he loved to flirt with girls, but in the end he was soft-hearted. She had thought of things for him that he had not thought of.

That night Jia Cong stayed in Zou Min'er's courtyard. After dinner, it was already dark.

Lingguan took Shuanghe to clean up the dishes, glanced at Jia Cong and Zou Miner, and then pulled Shuanghe out of the main room.

She knew that after she and the Third Master left, Sister Min'er would be the only one left in Gusu, and it would be difficult for them to meet in the future. They must have something private to say.

In the main room, Zou Miner glanced at Jia Cong, her face slightly flushed, and she took a half-finished robe from the bedside and compared it with Jia Cong's shoulders.

"Now that you're gone, I don't know when I'll see you again. I want to make you a piece of clothing. I've never made these before, so my craftsmanship must not be very good. Please don't look down on me."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "How can it not be exquisite? I think it is very good.

Although I don't know when I will come to Jiangnan again, but Xinchun has a Feiyu letter station in Gusu, you can go there more often. If you have anything to say, send me a letter. I will receive it in two or three days."

Jia Cong saw that she had a smile on her face. She held the unfinished robe and wrapped it around herself to compare it from front to back. Her graceful figure and soft, intoxicating fragrance slowly surrounded him.

Under the bright yellow candlelight, her delicate face was extremely attractive, and her curved eyelashes cast a quiet shadow on her eyes.

She laughed and said, "It seems the sleeves are a little longer."

Jia Cong saw her taking the scissors and needle and thread and starting to work under the candlelight. Jia Cong sat aside and watched her busy, just like an ordinary young couple in the mortal world.

The night is deep and the room is quiet.
They all knew that the time they had together was limited, and tomorrow they would go their separate ways, thousands of miles apart.

Jia Cong had seen Qingwen sew for him many times, and he noticed that Zou Miner's movements in sewing clothes were much more clumsy in comparison.

"Ouch!"

Zou Miner cried out softly as her left index finger was accidentally pierced, oozing out a crystal clear bead of blood.

Jia Cong felt a little sad when he thought of her slightly clumsy needlework. He grabbed her hand and put the pierced index finger in his mouth.

At that time, when Zou Min'er was seriously injured and nearly dying, even such intimate things as undressing and changing the bandages were done by Jia Cong himself. There was no reserve or estrangement between the two of them anymore.

His actions, which seemed too ambiguous to others, seemed natural in front of Zou Miner.

Her hands are as slender as jade, and her fingertips are soft and smooth, seeming to contain unspeakable emotions.

He looked up and saw Zou Miner's eyes were full of tears and she was looking at him with a blushing face.

That night, she worked under the lamp until the moon was at its highest point in the sky, altering the not-so-finely crafted gown to make it fit her properly. Jia Cong also stayed with her in the main room all night.

In the middle of the night, Lingguan got up and found that the wing room prepared for Jia Cong was dark, but the lights in the main room were still on, and there were two vague figures leaning on each other on the window pane.

She suddenly blushed and felt confused, and ran back to her room to sleep.

The next morning, after getting up, Zou Min'er helped Jia Cong comb his hair and dress, and tied the tiger-patterned jade leather belt that had been selected by Ziyun Pavilion that year around his waist.

The warm and bright morning light shone into the bedroom. The gold hairpin with a plum blossom pattern and kingfisher feathers on her hair reflected a dazzling and crystal light, and it seemed as if time was about to stop.

There are countless karmic relationships in the world, just like the morning dew on flowers. Although they have a moment of beauty, time is short and there is no time for them to grow. Those who should leave will eventually be gone... (End of this chapter)