Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard.

After hearing what Lady Wang said, Jia Zheng's expression softened slightly.

He said: "Speaking of Miss Lin, no matter her appearance, character, or family background, I like her very much. She is also my sister's only flesh and blood. In my opinion, there is no one better than her.

If you say that she is thin, it is not a big deal. She is so young, not even of marriageable age. If she is taken care of for a few more years, she will grow up and have a stronger body.

I heard from the old lady that Congge found a miracle doctor for her, who prepared an excellent pill medicine for her. Now she is taking it very well and looks much better than before.

If you want to say that she has a bad temper, it's not the case. She is just a child after all. It's okay for her to act like a spoiled brat. She will be sensible when she grows up a few years later."

Originally, Wang Fu-ren's favorite candidate for daughter-in-law was Bao-chai, but now that her niece has been taken by Jia Cong, that is absolutely not acceptable. Besides, the master would not agree to it out of consideration for Jia Cong.

When she proposed to Jia Zheng to marry Daiyu, it was just a second best option. Even though she didn't like Daiyu, Daiyu's family background would be of great benefit to Baoyu and the second wife.

But Mrs. Wang never expected that her master had never mentioned before that he actually loved and valued Miss Lin so much. It was probably because of his short-lived sister’s affection...

However, when Mrs. Wang heard Jia Zheng mention that all the high-quality pills that Daiyu now had were prepared by Jia Cong and the miracle doctor, she couldn't help feeling disgusted. How could this guy be everywhere?

Jia Zheng said: "If Baoyu can marry Lin girl, it will be his blessing. I am willing to do so, but I am afraid it will not be easy."

Mrs. Wang has always treated her son like a treasure, and she felt a little dissatisfied when she heard what Jia Zheng said.

He said, "Master, what do you mean by that? Our Baoyu is also the legitimate son of the Rongguo Mansion. He is outstanding in appearance. He usually stays at home and never goes out to cause trouble. This is rare among the children of aristocratic families."

Jia Zheng smiled bitterly: "What you said is not very useful. My brother-in-law Ru Hai is a first-class Jinshi, a top scholar, and also holds an important position as a fourth-rank salt inspector.

Even the current emperor thinks highly of him, otherwise why would the grandfather marry his sister to him? The Lin family is a family of marquises for five generations and the most prominent family in Gusu.

Lin girl is Ru Hai's only beloved daughter. As a third place scholar, when he is looking for a son-in-law, he wants him to be at least a third place scholar, if not the first place. Otherwise, it would be a mismatch.

Our Baoyu is already fifteen years old, but he can't even go to school. I'm afraid it will not be easy to get people to agree to this marriage.

Last year, the old lady asked me to write a letter to her and mentioned this matter. My brother-in-law declined because Lin was young and weak, and it was not appropriate for her to marry someone else at this age...

I once corresponded with him at the end of the year. I heard that smuggled salt was rampant in the Huai River and salt smugglers were rampant, and the situation was quite unstable. He is very busy with official duties now, so I'm afraid he doesn't have the time to talk about these things.

When the affairs in Lianghuai are calmer, I will write to discuss this matter. I hope he will consider it because of the old lady's love and care for Miss Lin. Whether it can be accomplished depends on Baoyu's fortune. "

Mrs. Wang was very unhappy when she heard this. She thought, "My master thinks too highly of the Lin family. Is it possible that my Baoyu is not worthy of marrying the daughter of the Lin family?"

That little girl is just an orphan. If she hadn't been raised by the old lady, her bones would have melted into ashes. How could she be as precious as the master said...

……

When Mrs. Wang came out of the Mengpo Zhai study, she heard a maid come over and tell her that the concubine had come and was serving tea in the main hall.

Mrs. Wang was stunned when she heard this. She had heard that her sister had been feeling unwell in recent days and had been bedridden, otherwise she would not have thought of visiting her.

Why didn't I go there, but she came here dragging her sick body?

When Mrs. Wang thought about seeing Jia Cong and Baochai hugging each other near Lixiang Courtyard, she couldn't help feeling nauseous and even felt uncomfortable seeing her own sister.

But since the person has come to my door, I have to see him and can only deal with him reluctantly.

Aunt Xue was sitting in the hall drinking tea. When she saw her sister come in, her face became a little stiff, without the intimacy that the sisters usually had when they met. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

My elder sister had a strong and stubborn temper before she got married. She used to be the mistress of the Rongguo Mansion, and such a temper could keep the family in check.

But now the second wife has lost her position as the legitimate wife, and will become a concubine in Baoyu's generation. My sister still has such an old temper, and she will probably suffer in the future.

Moreover, Baoyu no longer had any status to rely on in the Jia family, and had ruined his reputation outside. His own daughter disliked him, and this was also due to Jia Cong.

Aunt Xue had long since given up the idea of ​​a perfect match for her, but she just didn't want to tell her elder sister about it. But in the end, the truth had to be revealed, and the two sisters were bound to lose face one day.

But in the current situation, Aunt Xue didn't dare to quarrel with her elder sister. Otherwise, given her elder sister's temper, she might ruin her daughter's reputation without caring about it, and that would be a big disaster.

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Just now Baochai came back to Lixiang Garden and said that she saw you passing by the gate. Why didn't you come in and sit with us?"

Mrs. Wang's face turned cold and she said, "Sister, you have always been brought up strictly. Bao was such a well-behaved girl before, how come she has become like this now? She didn't tell you what she did?"

When Aunt Xue heard this, she felt embarrassed and angry.

Regardless of whether her daughter was wrong or not, it was up to her as a mother to speak out. It really made Aunt Xue angry when someone else accused her in front of her, even if that person was her own sister.

When will my sister change her strong character? Otherwise, sooner or later, people here and outside will be offended...

But Aunt Xue came here today just to shut her sister up, so it was naturally not easy to break off relations with her.

He smiled and said, "I roughly know what you are talking about. In fact, Baochai told me when she came back that she almost fell because the road was slippery due to the rain.

If Cong Ge'er hadn't quickly helped her, something would have happened. She is a delicate girl, and she would have been injured. That would have been disastrous."

Mrs. Wang was angry and said, "Sister is usually a smart person, how could she believe such words so easily? Bao girl has really been instigated.

I saw with my own eyes that Congge'er and Baoyatou behaved inappropriately and it was really immoral. Even their personal maids turned around and avoided them. It was really outrageous.

It can be seen that the maids around them all know the details. This kind of thing may have happened more than once!"

……

After hearing what Lady Wang said, Aunt Xue became so angry that her face turned pale. She blamed her sister for speaking so harshly and her daughter for being so foolish that she left such a big topic.

However, Aunt Xue had been the wife of an imperial merchant for half her life, and had dealt with many situations in her daily life. Compared with Lady Wang, who was used to being the mistress of the inner house and used to relying on power, she was much more flexible and tactful.

Although she was angry that her sister had slandered her daughter, she also knew that the two sisters must not fall out at this time.

So he said patiently, "Sister, you must be thinking wrongly. Bao girl is my flesh and blood. I know her character best. She has always been polite and well-behaved. She would never do this.

It must be that her maid was making too much fuss and acting without proper manner. I will definitely teach her a lesson when I get back.

My elder sister is a smart person and has always been well-informed. She must know that in a big mansion, most of the things that happen are just hearsay. Once a girl's reputation is involved, it can be life-threatening.

The elder sister was so angry because she had always valued Baochai. The deeper her love for her, the more severe her criticism. Naturally, the younger sister understood her elder sister's intentions.

When I go back, I will definitely discipline Baochai and make her think twice before doing anything in the future and not be so rash again.

I also ask my sister to control the servants around you. Don’t let rumors spread about what happened today. Otherwise, Baochai will never be able to clear herself even if she jumps into the Yellow River, and I will not be able to face her father either…”

Mrs. Wang saw that her sister was beating around the bush and was asking her to keep the secret so as not to ruin her daughter's reputation.

This made Mrs. Wang feel even more that her original guess was absolutely correct. Otherwise, why would her sister drag her sick body and come to see her in such a hurry? Her behavior was full of guilt.

After she thought all this through, she completely gave up the idea of ​​making Baochai her daughter-in-law. How could a person like her, Baoyu, marry a woman with a bad reputation? This was absolutely unacceptable!
In fact, Mrs. Wang wanted to use this incident to ruin Jia Cong's reputation, so she did not take Baochai's situation into consideration, because she felt that Baochai and Jia Cong were not clean, and even if they suffered, it was their own fault.

However, just now in the Mengpo Zhai study, Jia Zheng spoke harshly and called Caiyun to talk to her, not allowing her to say too much on the matter to avoid damaging Jia Cong's reputation.

This also put an end to Mrs. Wang's intentions in this matter. Although she hated Jia Cong very much, she did not dare to openly go against her husband Jia Zheng's wishes.

Because this is the most important thing for Mrs. Wang to gain a foothold in the Jia family, and it is also the most basic bottom line...

……

Now, since there is no way to use this incident to punish Jia Cong, there is naturally no need to damage Baochai's reputation, and Mrs. Wang is also happy to save face in front of her sister.

Moreover, the second branch of the Jia family has lost its power, her sister is in the Xue family's wealth, and her brother Wang Ziteng's influence in the officialdom are all Mrs. Wang's most accessible backing and support.

Unless she is forced to do so, she will not easily break off...

Mrs. Wang said, "You and I are sisters, and Bao-ya-tou is my niece. I know the importance of these things, so don't worry, sister."

"Sister, let me ask you something. I know you have always thought highly of Cong because he is capable and good-looking. Has Bao ever had any feelings for him?"

Mrs. Wang knew in her heart that her sister was somewhat envious of Jia Cong's excellence, but this was not surprising, as it was common knowledge that this boy looked good on the outside.

However, Mrs. Wang had never paid attention to whether Baochai had an affair with Jia Cong before, but after what happened today, she had to think about it.

Aunt Xue was stunned for a moment when she heard her sister's sudden question and didn't react at first.

She knew in her heart that her daughter had already lost her heart to Jia Cong when she first met him in Jinling.

Now she is even more stubborn and all she can think about is that boy, but how can she tell this to Mrs. Wang?

I quickly replied, "Sister, you're worrying too much. They don't usually interact with each other. Even when they meet, they are with their sisters at home. How could they have any thoughts that they shouldn't have?"

Although Aunt Xue responded appropriately, Mrs. Wang was also good at observing people's expressions. She noticed that her sister was obviously stunned for a moment after hearing what she said.

Although the words sounded nice, there was a hint of embarrassment in her eyes. She knew her sister's character best, and she couldn't help but feel angry. Mrs. Wang secretly hated herself for being so foolish. She usually thought Baochai was perfect and wanted her to be her daughter-in-law.

It turned out that she and Jia Cong had been having an affair for a long time, and I only saw it that day. I didn't know what shameless things they had done before that I didn't see. It was obvious that I didn't wrongly accuse them.

Aunt Xue saw that her sister, who had been coaxed by her, suddenly became unhappy again after she had just finished speaking, and she didn't know what she was thinking.

Ever since the second branch of the Jia family lost its position as the legitimate heir, my sister has become more and more crazy, and she is a little moody all day long...

Since Aunt Xue had already received a promise from Lady Wang, she didn't want to say anything else, for fear of making too many mistakes and provoking her sister in some way.

So he forced himself to chat about a few family matters and was about to say goodbye and leave.

Then Mrs. Wang suddenly said, "Sister, my second wife has moved out of Rongguo Mansion, and something happened today between Bao and Cong.

I think it’s not appropriate for you to continue living in Lixiangyuan. The Xue family also has another villa in Shenjing, so it’s better to move out and avoid disputes and troubles in the future.”

……

When Aunt Xue heard this, she looked a little embarrassed, because what Mrs. Wang said was not entirely unreasonable.

When Xue Pan got into trouble in Nanjing, the Xue family fled to the capital to avoid the limelight. The reason they were able to stay in Lixiangyuan of Rongguo Mansion was because their elder sister, Mrs. Wang, was the mistress of the household.

Now, not only has Mrs. Wang lost her status as the mistress of the house, she has even moved out of the Rongguo Mansion. The Xue family has no reason to continue living in the Rongguo Mansion, both morally and logically.

However, the reason why the Xue family stayed in Rongguo Mansion was not because they had no money or house.

It’s just that the Xue family has no roots in Shenjing, and they live in Rongguo Mansion so that they can rely on the power of the Jia family in Shenjing.

Although Aunt Xue's brother Wang Ziteng was also an official in Shenjing, his official position and career also came from the Jia family. It would be beneficial for the Xue family and the Jia family to have a closer relationship.

Not to mention that Aunt Xue moved into Lixiangyuan in the first place to help her and her sister plan a perfect match.

But now, times have changed, the Jia family has undergone tremendous changes, and the so-called perfect match has become a joke.

Right now, in Aunt Xue's heart, Jia Cong is the one who is truly rich and powerful.

Although she didn't want her daughter to be a concubine, her brother Wang Ziteng's suggestion and her son Xue Pan's instigation made Aunt Xue unable to let go of such a big temptation...

His daughter became involved with Jia Cong again, and moved out of Rongguo Mansion. The two families also cut off their daily contacts, and there was no more drama to perform in the future.

It sounded like her sister had ulterior motives when she brought up this topic at this time. I was afraid that she had probably guessed what I was thinking from just a few words.

……

When Mrs. Wang saw that her sister looked embarrassed when she mentioned that the Xue family should no longer stay in Rongguo Mansion, she couldn't help feeling cruel and pleased at the same time.

Some things can be let go if no one else mentions them; but once they are revealed, people will have to comply for reasons of reason and face.

This is what happened when the Xue family stayed at the Lixiangyuan of the Rongguo Mansion.

Mrs. Wang had already figured out what her sister was thinking from what she had just said. That kid from the East Palace had two titles in one body, so her sister must have had some ideas about him a long time ago.

Therefore, in what I said just now, there was no intention to save this golden marriage. I was just afraid that my sister had already regretted this marriage in her heart.

What she had said before, that Xue Pan had not yet married and that Baochai had to get engaged early because it was not polite, were all just lies made up by her sister to shirk responsibility. She was the only one who was wishful thinking.

After realizing this, Mrs. Wang became even more resentful. She immediately thought that she had moved out of Rongguo Mansion, while her sister and her family were still staying in Lixiangyuan.

It must be that my sister was attracted by the official title and power of that little beast, and she became so obsessed with it that she had inappropriate thoughts about it.

Mrs. Wang thought about her chosen daughter-in-law, such a charming young lady, being toyed with by Jia Cong.

Originally I wanted to be Baoyu's wife, but if she continues to mess around like this, she will most likely become that little beast's concubine. How can she swallow this?

Now that I have moved out of Rongguo Mansion, my sister no longer has any reason to live in Lixiangyuan.

As long as I control my words and make my sister lose face and force her to move out of Rongguo Mansion, I can cut off this wild couple at a stroke. What I, Baoyu, don't have, he also certainly doesn't have.

Then we'll see if that boy from the East Palace has any convenient excuse to seduce Baochai again. I'll make sure he doesn't see or eat her, and he'll get his comeuppance...

……

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong Courtyard.

There was a melodious sound of piano in the study, a clear tune with complete melody, but the changes in the rhythm were often awkward.

Jia Cong was playing the guqin left by his biological mother Du Jinniang. Daiyu sat beside him, listening with her chin in her hands, with a pretty and charming smile on her face.

Ever since the two of them discovered the peculiarity of the guqin by chance, it has become a secret in their hearts, and naturally they have not told anyone else.

Jia Cong's wife, Cui, was a great zither player of the time. Jia Cong went to Liuzhai to learn from her every day. Cui liked him very much and taught him the art of zither.

Although Jia Cong did not learn much about the guqin, he knew from the influence of his teacher's wife that no matter how good the guqin is, it needs to be played frequently to maintain its long-lasting and mellow tone and not lose its purity.

His own musical skills were limited, so he often asked Daiyu, the best among his sisters, to come and play for his enjoyment.

When Daiyu heard him talk today about how Cui had taught her the art of playing the zither, she was filled with envy and insisted on asking Jia Cong to play the zither for her to listen to.

It's just that he has a talent for reading and writing, but his piano skills and chess skills are as ordinary as his.

Finally the song ended and I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

……

Daiyu saw that he looked troubled, so she began to praise him, "Third brother is really amazing. He is only a beginner, but he has performed the whole piece without making any mistakes.

If you practice diligently for a few years, you will not only inherit the literary legacy of Master Liu, but also receive the true art of the zither from Master Cui."

Jia Cong looked unconvinced and said, "Sister, please don't fool me. I don't have the ability. I often go to Luocang Mountain for lessons. My mistress wants to teach me all her zither skills, and I am quite interested.

But after learning for a while, my teacher's wife said that I was not as smart as I was in studying, implying that I was too stupid. "

After hearing this, Daiyu couldn't help laughing.

He then quickly coaxed, "Master Cui is a world-famous master of zither art. In her eyes, anyone who is not extremely talented in zither art is probably not smart. Third brother, don't be discouraged.

You know, there are not many people in the world who are gifted in playing the qin. Although Third Brother is outstanding, he doesn’t necessarily have to be the best in everything. Playing the qin is something that pleases oneself, and it’s enough to be able to enjoy it for oneself.”

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister, what you say always makes sense. Every inch has its own merits. I am not as good as my second sister at playing chess, and I am not as good as Sister Lin at playing the zither. This is the truth.

Otherwise, I have to do everything, and it would be too boring for the sisters to be together. I'd better let my younger sister play a song for me so that I can listen to the pine wind."

……

Daiyu smiled slightly and was about to sit down in front of the piano when she suddenly heard footsteps outside. Jia Cong recognized it as Qingwen's footsteps.

Just as he reached the door of the study, a pretty and crisp voice sounded: "Third Master, I'm back from Lixiang Courtyard, and the concubine just came back from Donglu Courtyard. I think the trouble you caused is over."

Qingwen walked into the room and found Daiyu sitting in front of the piano stool. She couldn't help sticking out her tongue, regretting that she spoke too quickly.

Jia Cong asked, "What did the wife and concubine say?"

Qingwen glanced at Daiyu with an embarrassed look on her face, hesitating whether she should answer. The young master hugged Miss Bao today. If Miss Lin knew about this romantic affair, she would definitely bully the third master.

Jia Cong laughed and scolded, "Just say it when I tell you to. Why are you dithering?"

Qingwen stammered, "My aunt said that Madam has promised not to spread the matter, so as not to tarnish Miss Bao's reputation."

Daiyu turned her head to look at Jia Cong, blinked her bright eyes, and asked with a smile: "Third brother, what trouble have you caused to ruin Sister Bao's reputation?

Tell your sister about this amazing thing, so that she can learn more."

When Qingwen heard this, the corners of her mouth twitched. She wanted to laugh but didn't dare to. She just lowered her head and said nothing.

Jia Cong was a little embarrassed and said, "It's not a big deal. I'll go visit my aunt after I finish writing my essay today. When I come back, Sister Bao will talk to you, so she will go back to the East Palace with me.

It was raining and the ground was too slippery. Sister Bao almost fell down. Fortunately, I helped her up, otherwise she would have fallen hard. "

Daiyu looked puzzled and asked, "You helped Sister Bao and ruined her reputation. You even asked your aunt to go and explain to the Madam. What did you help so badly?"

Jia Cong blurted out, "I hugged her waist, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to support her at that time."

Qingwen, who was standing aside, looked at Jia Cong with admiration, thinking to herself: Third Master is really shameless. He can justify himself so confidently by secretly hugging someone else's girl. He is really amazing... (End of this chapter)