Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Fengjie's Courtyard.

The incense burner in the room was filled with red peat mixed with fine lily scented leaves, emitting a warm and fragrant scent.

The eldest sister was carried back and forth by Ping'er, and soon fell asleep. Ping'er then carried her to the small couch in the inner room and put her to bed.

Wang Xifeng finished reading the family letter and said with a smile: "After receiving my letter, my wife has paid more attention to Xinchunhao and heard many interesting stories from the women of the wealthy families.

It is said that Xinchunhao is managed by Miss Qu, who often travels between branches in Jinling, Suzhou, Yinzhou, Fuzhou and other places to manage distribution and overseas business.

Miss Qin only stayed in Jinling to take care of the daily affairs of the business. Apart from the maids who managed various parts of the business, she seldom saw outsiders.

Therefore, Miss Qin's name is not as well-known as Miss Qu's. As Xinchun's business is booming, people are gradually getting to know the second-in-command Qin."

When Baochai heard that the second in command of Xinchunhao was also a young girl, she couldn't help feeling a little strange.

I don’t know where Brother Cong found these beautiful ladies, and they are all outstanding people.

Wang Xifeng glanced at Wu'er who was keeping the accounts and asked, "Wu'er, you and Qingwen went to Jinling with Brother Cong. Have you ever seen this Miss Qin?"

Wu Er said, "It was several years ago that the Third Master and I went to Jinling. At that time, there was no Xinchunhao and Miss Qu was still running an embroidery and incense shop in Shenjing.

I have met Miss Qu many times in Shenjing. When my third master was studying at Qingshan Academy, he would take me to her home in his free time.

But I have never seen Miss Qin from Jinling, nor have I heard the Third Master mention her specifically.

Lingguan was the only one in the Third Master's courtyard who had seen Miss Qin. Last year, the Third Master went to Nanjing on business, and Sister Zhishao had been in Suzhou, so only Lingguan followed him to Nanjing.

Once, Lingguan mentioned casually that this Miss Qin was named Qin Yao and was a distant relative of Miss Qu.

Because the family fell into poverty and relatives were separated, and she had excellent management skills, she was invited to be the second manager of the business. "

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "So that's the reason. Xinchunhao is also unique. Both inside and outside the house are run by girls, and they are all outstanding figures.

Brother Cong's fate is also strange, I don't know how he got to have all these people."

When Baochai heard about Miss Qin's background, her mind felt a little confused and dizzy. Miss Qu was already famous enough.

According to Sister Feng's letter home, this Qin Er, the shopkeeper, is also a man of outstanding character and appearance, and Brother Cong's business is also unique...

Baochai smiled and said, "Wu'er, I have often heard of Miss Qu in my mansion, but I have never had the opportunity to meet her. I am really curious about what she is like."

Wu Er smiled and said, "Miss Qu is a few years older than the Third Master. She is very pretty and has a different spirit from ordinary girls. In short, she is very good."

Wang Xifeng laughed again and said, "I really envy these girls, who can run businesses outside and do big things.

Unlike us who were born into aristocratic families and married into wealthy families, although it may seem glorious on the surface, it is actually difficult to even go out of the door.

"It's boring to just be able to take care of trivial matters in the inner house every day and to do the work in a small snail shell."

Baochai sighed slightly and said, "It's just that their destinies are different. Sister Feng envies them for being free, managing practical businesses, and having great ambitions.

Perhaps they also envy Sister Feng for living a stable and comfortable life in her inner house, enjoying wealth and luxury, without having to worry about everything every day.

In this world, what you think about in your heart is one thing, and what you do every day due to fate is often another thing, and this is also unpredictable. "

After Ping'er had settled her eldest sister, she returned to the outer room and sat around. There was not much household chores at the mansion that day, so she happened to have half a day free.

A few people sat and talked in the house, and before they knew it, it was sunset, and then everyone dispersed.

……

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard, Aunt Zhao's Courtyard.

There are two rooms next to the main house on the north side of the yard, and a wing room on each side. Although the yard is not large, it looks neat and tidy.

As Jia Zheng's concubine, Aunt Zhao was able to live in an independent small courtyard in the not-so-large East Courtyard, which was considered quite generous in the mansion.

The reason was that she had many children, including a son and a daughter for Jia Zheng, which made her very popular in the mansion, not to mention that she was Jia Zheng's most beloved concubine.

Compared with Aunt Zhou, who was also a concubine, because she had no children in her life, her living place was far less grand than that of Aunt Zhao.

The main room was filled with the pungent smell of plaster. After a month of bedridden recuperation, Jia Huan was now able to get out of bed and walk slowly with the help of a cane.

But the doctor advised him to only move his tibia slightly and not to move around too much, so he still stayed in bed most of the time.

When Tanchun saw her brother get out of bed and walk a few steps, she knew that his injuries were getting better, so she felt a little relieved and asked the maid to help him lie down in bed and rest.

She came to the East Courtyard to visit today because she knew that Mrs. Wang had come to Rongguo Mansion and was walking around in Baoyu Courtyard and Rongqing Hall, so she took some time to come here.

It also saves everyone from having to follow family etiquette when meeting the stepmother, which makes everyone feel uncomfortable.

Tanchun told Jia Huan to rest and recuperate, then left the main house to return to the East Mansion. Just as she reached the middle of the courtyard, Aunt Zhao caught up with her and pulled her into the side room.

Tanchun saw Aunt Zhao had closed the doors and windows and was behaving in a somewhat furtive manner. She frowned and asked, "Aunt, what are you doing? If someone sees you, it will arouse suspicion."

Aunt Zhao said, "Third girl, you haven't come these few days. I have something to say for a long time, and I have to say it out to feel better."

Tanchun's eyes flickered. Seeing that Aunt Zhao looked unwilling, she vaguely guessed something and asked, "Aunt, please tell me what you want to say."

Aunt Zhao said, "It's been rumored all over the mansion these days that Caixia has only been in Baoyu's room for a month, and she's already pregnant so quickly. It sounds a bit strange.

Although some women are easy to give birth, it is rare to find one as convenient as her. Caixia was close to your brother before, so I suspect..."

After hearing half of what was said, Tanchun's pretty face flushed red, and she shouted in a low voice: "Shut up, Auntie, how can you say such things? If the news leaks out, it will cause great disaster!

Caixia entered Baoyu's room, but she performed the family etiquette and offered tea to the old lady. Her status was established and everyone in the two mansions knew about it.

She is pregnant now, so it should be Baoyu's child. Auntie also grew up in a wealthy family, so she should know how dangerous it is.

As long as no one says no to this matter, given Madam's fierce temper, if Caiyun and her child can still survive, it will be a real sin!
If gossip were to spread, the master would kill Huan'er in a rage. Even if he survived, his life would be ruined, and my mother and I would no longer be able to live in the Jia family with dignity.

If you want us to die together, just go ahead and say these nonsense to others in the future!"

……

Aunt Zhao was so frightened by Tanchun's harsh words that her face turned pale.

Said: "I know this is scary, but I am really suspicious. How could it happen so quickly?"

Tanchun felt hot all over after hearing this, and asked patiently, "Has Auntie mentioned this to anyone else?"

Aunt Zhao said, "I just couldn't get over it, so I told my daughter and didn't mention it to anyone else.

Your brother is still a child and doesn't know much about having children. I didn't say a word in front of him.

If I were really so stupid and didn't know the difference between the important and the unimportant, how could I support you two siblings in my mansion?"

Tanchun couldn't help frowning when she heard her aunt's rude words, but she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She said, "It's good that Auntie knows the severity of the matter. Now that things have come to this, don't say that you don't understand. Even if you really do understand, it will not benefit anyone.

Don't do these meaningless things. If you cause trouble, you will regret it too late and end up causing the death of innocent others.

Auntie can't tell anyone about this today, and don't think about it anymore. Just let it rot in your stomach, and don't say a word in front of Huan'er.

My third brother and I have discussed that once Huan'er's injuries have fully recovered, we will send him to prison to study so that he will have less trouble at home.

If my aunt still has me in her heart, she must listen to me this time. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, I will definitely ignore her.

If you are too embarrassed to live like a human being because of this, I can just shave my head and become a nun. Auntie, don't even think about me talking to you anymore!"

Aunt Zhao also knew that what Tanchun said made sense. As long as everyone lived in peace and security, everything would be fine.

She quickly said, "Whatever you say is right. Auntie will definitely listen to you this time. If your brother doesn't live up to his expectations, I will still be counting on you for the rest of my life.

We'll do whatever you say. It's getting late, and you'll have to apologize to your wife when she comes back. You'd better go back to the East Mansion as soon as possible and don't stay here any longer."

Tanchun sighed, and patiently gave a few more instructions before leaving the East Courtyard with the secretary.

……

Ningrong Street, Earl's Mansion.

Tanchun got off the carriage at the east corner gate. A maid from the outer courtyard had already prepared a sedan chair and was waiting for her. The sedan chair was carried to the second gate of the inner courtyard and stopped.

Tanchun got off the sedan chair and just took two steps into the inner courtyard when she felt a gust of cold north wind blowing, making a whistling sound and making her feel cold all over.

She said to the secretary, "It seems that Third Brother will soon be leaving the government office. I will go to his courtyard to talk for a while.

Now the wind has started to blow, go back and get my cloak and hand warmer, it will be cold at night."

After the secretary left, Tanchun went into Jia Cong's courtyard alone. The courtyard was quiet and no one was walking around.

I think it was getting colder outside, so the door of the main room was ajar to keep out the cold, and laughter and voices like silver bells could be heard from inside the room.

Tanchun pushed the door open gently and felt the warmth in the room.

On the east wall of the room was a copper hollow incense burner with two stars of fortune and luck, covered with bamboo strips. Qingwen, Yinglian and Lingguan were sitting around the incense burner.

Tanchun saw that the three men were only wearing homely skirts and jackets, without any remaining makeup, with plain faces, delicate and pretty, talking in low voices, smiling, and looking very happy.

Three pairs of embroidered shoes with different patterns were neatly placed on the edge of the cage, huddled together for warmth.

The hot steam in the incense burner evaporated the beautiful body fragrance of girls, mixed with the fragrance of the remaining makeup, making the air diffuse the intoxicating fragrance. Tanchun smiled and said, "Third brother is not at home, you guys are good at having fun."

Qingwen smiled and said, "The wind started blowing before sunset, and the cold air is penetrating into our bones. Our hands are cold and it's hard to work. We are trying to warm them up.

The third girl has also come to get rid of the cold. I will go and serve her some tea."

Tanchun smiled and went over to sit down, and also put her embroidered shoes on the edge of the incense burner. She felt the hot steam rising up, and the chill she had just felt on the road was instantly swept away.

She drank warm tea while chatting with Suiyi, Yinglian and others, but she was always a little absent-minded.

Just as her body was warmed up, she heard footsteps coming from the yard. Yinglian smiled and said, "The young master has returned home. It's his footsteps."

The door of the main room was pushed open again, and a gust of cold wind blew in. Qingwen hurriedly got up to help Jia Cong take off his cloak, and Lingguan hurried over to close the door.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You guys are so comfortable. It's so cold, you should stay indoors and warm yourself by the fire. How come Third Sister has time to come out today?"

Tanchun smiled and said, "I just came back from the East Courtyard, and I was just about to talk to my third brother."

When Jia Cong heard the words "Eastern Courtyard", he understood what Tanchun wanted to say.

He said, "Lingguan, we are inviting our third sister to dinner today. Go to the kitchen and tell them to add a few dishes.

The third sister’s dish has a light and elegant taste. It requires refrigerated wolfberry sprouts or artemisia selengensis, and is fried in one or two plates with oil and salt, but with less oil.

Cut a plate of freshly pickled goose breast and do not season it with salt or vinegar. Just sprinkle it with hot honey and osmanthus.

Then make a plate of the ready-made eggplant and dried fish cold salad, and stew a bowl of lotus leaf and lotus seed soup. The rest of the dishes will be the same as yesterday."

Tanchun was originally in a heavy mood, but after hearing Jia Cong's instructions, she couldn't help but smile sweetly.

These dishes are what I like to eat every day, and my third brother remembers them clearly.

……

Jia Cong asked Qingwen and others to stay in the main room to keep warm, and he took Tanchun into the study.

He asked, "Did Third Sister go to see Auntie and Huan'er today?"

Tanchun repeated to Jia Cong what Aunt Zhao had said today.

Said: "I knew that when Caixia announced her pregnancy, Auntie would definitely be worried, and sure enough, she couldn't help but bring it up today.

Although I warned her with words, my aunt also knew the seriousness of the matter and promised not to mention it again, but I was still uneasy.

If I keep hiding this matter, I never know when someone will stir up trouble. If I can't explain it clearly, I'm afraid it will be out of control."

Jia Cong advised: "Sister, don't worry too much. Although Aunt Zhao is a little impetuous, she is not really confused. Now that you have understood the pros and cons, she will definitely take it to heart.

I'm not worried that your aunt will let it out, but I'm worried about something else."

Tanchun asked, "What is Third Brother worried about?"

Jia Cong said: "If Aunt Zhao's guess is correct..."

Tanchun was a smart person. She knew what Jia Cong meant after hearing only half of his sentence.

Not only did he rape his mother's maid, but he also raped his brother's concubine, and she got pregnant. He will be doomed to eternal damnation in this wealthy family!
Her delicate body trembled suddenly, her face flushed, her whole body felt hot, and she felt a little embarrassed for a moment.

When Aunt Zhao brought up this topic just now, Tanchun had thought about this possibility, but she just didn't dare to think about it.

If the truth is this, it would be a huge scandal. Not only would his brothers be ruined, but the second branch of the Jia family would also be condemned by everyone.

The entire Jia family will be discredited and the consequences will be disastrous.

Seeing Tanchun's pretty face flushed with shame, Jia Cong felt embarrassed and stopped talking immediately.

Tanchun is an unmarried girl. It is indeed inappropriate for me to raise such speculations about sexual misconduct in front of such a young girl.

Tanchun's breasts rose and fell slightly, she looked up at Jia Cong and said, "Third brother has always been very perceptive and can see through things like seeing through fire.

Don’t worry about anything to me, you can say anything.”

Jia Cong calmed himself down and said, "If Aunt Zhao's guess is correct, I mean if.

Even Aunt Zhao could sense that something was fishy. It was impossible for the Second Madam, a shrewd housewife in the inner chamber, to be unaware of this.

If that's the case, she is still anxious to let Caixia enter Baoyu's room. Isn't she afraid that Baoyu will be humiliated? This is too unreasonable.

Baoyu already has Xiren and Caiyun in his room. Caixia can give birth, so why can't they?

If what Aunt Zhao guessed was true, there must be a reason why the Second Wife did such a thing, and she would keep her mouth shut better than anyone else.

As long as we don't touch it lightly, I think the Second Wife will not make any unusual moves, and this matter will most likely remain calm."

Jia Cong sighed, "There have always been many disputes in the mansion, and many things cannot be made public until death.

Not to mention our generation, the previous generation must have been involved as well, but everyone keeps their mouths shut and doesn't want to expose it easily.

So sister, don’t worry too much. Tomorrow is the beginning of the twelfth lunar month. Just spend the New Year with peace of mind first.

Even if something unexpected happens, I will help my third sister and not let her suffer any loss."

……

After being comforted by Jia Cong, Tanchun slowly put down the heavy weight in her heart. At this time, Lingguan came into the study and said that the dishes had been delivered from the kitchen, and asked Jia Cong and Tanchun to come over to have dinner.

As soon as the two entered the main room, they saw Wu'er and Ping'er walking into the yard together against the biting north wind.

Because it wasn't too cold that morning, they didn't wear hoods of their cloaks, and their pretty faces were blown red by the north wind.

When everyone gathered and sat down, Jia Cong discovered that only Zhishao was missing.

When Lingguan saw Jia Cong's eyes, she knew what he was thinking.

She said, "Sister Zhishao went to the small courtyard on the south slope at noon, and sent a message before sunset, saying that she would stay there tonight."

Jia Cong didn't care. The renovation of the Muni Temple would be completed soon, and Miaoyu and her disciples would move out in the twelfth lunar month. Zhishao naturally wanted to stay with them longer.

……

Earl's Mansion, South Slope Courtyard.

There was a step-out bed with elm columns in Miaoyu's Zen room. The bed curtains and bedding were simple and solid in color, but the materials used were of the highest quality.

Zhishao had prepared these daily necessities carefully according to her senior sister's preferences, with great effort and thought.

There was also a dressing table next to the bed, with a bright and transparent bronze mirror, some fine rouge and powder, and an exquisite ebony jewelry box.

Miaoyu is a Buddhist who practices Buddhism with her hair uncut. Although she is very pretty, she strictly observes the Buddhist precepts and does not use any makeup items used by women.

Because Zhishao often stayed in the small courtyard on the south slope to accompany Master Xiushan, if she stayed overnight in the courtyard, she would sleep on the same bed with Miaoyu.

These women's dressing items are what Zhishao carries with her in her daily life.

Miaoyu became a nun at a young age. She has a cold and eccentric personality, is unsentimental and difficult to get along with, but she is very accommodating to her fellow apprentice sister and is tolerant of everything.

Even if Zhishao placed ordinary makeup items in the room, she didn't care and just followed her wishes.

Sometimes when she woke up in the morning, she would watch Zhishao dressing up and curiously admire her, and even help her, which added a lot of fun to the relationship between the sisters.

At this time, Miaoyu was chanting in the Buddhist temple, and Zhishao was the only one in the room. She was sitting by the bed, sewing a set of light blue Songjiang cotton lining.

Qingwen is the best at needlework in Jia Cong's room, and most of the daily clothes are sewed by Qingwen.

But every time the season changes, Zhishao will definitely make one or two sets, and she is extremely careful.

It seemed to come from somewhere, a vague yet clear drive from within, as if it was a habit formed many years ago. Only Jia Cong and Wu'er knew the reason.

……

That day, after Miaoyu finished her homework for the day, she went to her master's room to talk.

As it was almost the twelfth lunar month, the north wind was blowing hard outside and the temperature began to drop sharply. She helped the master make the quilts thicker and added silver frost charcoal to the fumigation cage in the room.

When he returned to his own Zen room, he saw his junior sister leaning against the bed sewing clothes. Judging from the color and style of the clothes, they must be Jia Cong's clothes.

The setting sun outside the window was dim, and the candlestick in the room had been lit. The bright yellow candlelight illuminated Zhishao's pretty and delicate face, emitting a warm and moving glow.

Miaoyu was a little dazed for a moment. Zhishao's expression was calm and focused, which seemed to disturb her heart. Her slender fingers pulled and picked lightly, and the stitches were dense and affectionate.

She suddenly envied her junior sister, who exuded a peaceful fulfillment and was filled with silent joy.

Even if she didn't say a word, Miaoyu could still sense it clearly.

This is something that Miaoyu could not obtain even if she recited the sutras in front of the Buddha a thousand times.

Because she has someone to rely on for life, because she has someone in her heart.

She suddenly understood why she felt so unfair and sad when Jia Cong took Zhi Shao away from Gusu Panxiang Temple...

I am just a withered orchid under the green lamp, while my junior sister is the peony blooming in the warm water and sunshine. (End of this chapter)