Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Winter nights are long. Although Jia Cong got up according to his usual routine, it was still dark outside the window, with only a faint glimmer of dawn appearing in the east.

Qingwen placed the copper basin on the basin stand, went to the usual spot to find the tinderbox, and lit the candlesticks on the dressing table.

He asked, "Third Master, why is Sister Ping'er still asleep? At this time of day, she would have already gotten up and started preparing."

Jia Cong replied, "Ping'er is not feeling well, let her lie down and sleep a little longer."

Qingwen was curious. Last night at dinner, Ping'er was very clever. Why did she feel uncomfortable after sleeping?

While she was helping Jia Cong wash his mouth and face, she inadvertently saw a pair of white satin embroidered cotton shoes placed in front of the Third Master's bed.

Qingwen was puzzled. These weren't Ping'er's shoes, so why were they placed in front of Third Master's bed?

Could it be that Sister Ping'er helped Third Master warm the quilt last night and forgot to put it back on? How could she be so careless? Did she walk barefoot in this cold weather?

Hmph, or did they do something good last night?

As for how the two of them did their good deeds, Qingwen still had a vague understanding. Although she had heard the old woman say some crude things, no one dared to elaborate in front of her.

Seeing that Ping'er was sleeping peacefully on the side couch, but it didn't quite seem right, he asked, "Third Master, is Sister Ping'er feeling unwell? Should we call a doctor to take a look?"

Jia Cong found it strange that a doctor could be called in to examine this matter. He casually replied, "It's nothing serious. I just need to rest for a day. There's no need to see a doctor."

Qingwen said "Oh," and then said, "I'll go see Sister Ping'er and ask her what's wrong."

As she spoke, she walked toward the side couch. Jia Cong's heart skipped a beat. Ping'er had just hurriedly wrapped herself in the quilt, and he was afraid that she wasn't even fully dressed.

If Qingwen were to lift the covers and discover this, that girl would surely tease her, and Ping'er would likely feel embarrassed and ashamed.

……

He grabbed Qingwen and casually said, "What's so interesting about this? It's just a girl's private matter. Hurry up and tie my hair; we have to rush to court."

Upon hearing this, Qingwen, thinking herself clever, suddenly realized and said, "So this is a private matter for women. Third Master, you don't understand. Just leave it to me."

I'll make Ping'er some brown sugar water later; she'll feel better after drinking it."

Jia Cong's face stiffened, but he still had a certain curiosity and tentatively asked, "Will brown sugar water work? Can that really be effective? I've heard that's not how it works."

Qingwen pressed Jia Cong down onto a stool, combing his hair as she did so, and said, "Of course it works, I've tried it myself. A woman's affairs are not something she should discuss with you men."

Jia Cong suppressed a laugh and said, "You're right. How can you girls talk to men about your affairs? Qingwen, you're getting smarter and smarter."

Ping'er hid under the covers, listening to Jia Cong and Qingwen's nonsense, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself, but dared not make a sound.

Qingwen was very quick and efficient. She quickly helped Jia Cong tie his hair into a bun, then circled around him, straightening his robes and helping him put on his official robes.

Jia Cong said, "Qingwen, send a maid to the West Mansion later to tell Second Mistress that Sister Ping'er needs to rest for a day and won't be going today."

After Qingwen brought out the hot water, Jia Cong sat down on the side couch. Ping'er then peeked out from under the covers, her pretty face beaming with barely suppressed laughter.

He laughed and said, "Third Master, you don't hold back at all, letting Qingwen talk nonsense. I wonder how she'll go around making a ruckus when she goes out."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "You don't know how curious Qingwen is. It's best to just fool her like this."

Seeing Ping'er wrapped in a brocade quilt, her pretty face flushed, her hair disheveled, so charming and touching, he couldn't help but feel a stirring of emotion.

Knowing that she was not fully clothed, he ran to the side couch to hide his shame, so he took advantage of her situation and reached under the covers to grope her.

Ping'er was already in a bit of a mess from his antics, her lips and neck being ravaged again, when suddenly Lingguan ran to the door and told them to go to the main room for breakfast.

Jia Cong withdrew his grip on An Lushan's claws this time and instructed Ping'er to lie down and rest, and that a maid would bring in breakfast later.

……

Jia Cong followed Lingguan out of the main room, closing the door behind him. Ping'er sat up when she heard the door close.

She calmed herself slightly in bed, recalling the passionate night she had spent together, and her whole body involuntarily felt hot.

Just as she finished putting on her inner clothes, she saw the little maid Juan'er enter the room, carrying a bucket of hot soup with steaming water inside.

She said that Third Master had just instructed her to bring hot water so that Sister Ping'er could get up and wash.

Ping'er blushed as she listened, naturally understanding Jia Cong's meaning. She never expected a man to be so thoughtful.

After Juan'er left, Ping'er got out of bed barefoot. Her feet were wet with the dew and she had some difficulty moving around, but she still went over and bolted the door.

I walked back to the rosewood and mother-of-pearl inlaid wardrobe and found a clean pair of underwear.

After fetching hot water and hiding behind the screen, I washed and tidied myself up before changing into clean undergarments, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She then went to tidy up the mess on the canopy bed, and with a blushing face, carefully folded and put away the white silk stained with plum blossoms.

Only then did she return to her dressing table, where she styled her hair in front of the bronze mirror, put on her hairpins and hair ornaments, tied her slender waist with an embroidered skirt, and put on a long, fur-lined jacket with a front opening.

Upon seeing herself in the mirror, her eyes were like water, her complexion was radiant, and she was infinitely beautiful, a captivating sight she had never seen before.

……

In the main room of the courtyard, everyone was sitting together eating breakfast. Only Qingwen ate heartily. After a while, she cleared away the dishes and hurriedly prepared to leave.

Wu'er asked, "Qingwen, where are you going so early in the morning?"

Qingwen said, "Third Master said that Sister Ping'er is having her period and is feeling unwell. She is still in bed. I'll go to the kitchen and make her a bowl of brown sugar water. She'll feel better after drinking it."

Apart from Jia Cong, everyone present was a young woman, most of whom were already pregnant. Although they were all close to Jia Cong and spent every day together, they had few taboos.

But Qingwen was very outspoken and spoke without restraint about her daughter's menstrual period, which made people feel somewhat embarrassed.

Some people blushed, while others lowered their heads and chuckled; the atmosphere at the table was somewhat strange.

Jia Cong was speechless. When did he mention that Ping'er was menstruating in front of so many girls? It was quite embarrassing.

He wanted to offer some explanation, but wisely kept quiet. He denied saying it now, not to mention Qingwen's extremely strong curiosity.

The girls and maids at the table would all be tempted, and they would inevitably whisper among themselves and try to find out more.

No matter the era, women's love for gossip should never be underestimated.

The affair between myself and Ping'er will surely become the topic of conversation among young girls after dinner, leading them to explore the ethics of male-female relationships, which is really too unpleasant.

So Jia Cong simply pretended to be confused and picked up the porridge bowl to slurp it down.

Seeing Qingwen rush out, Wu'er felt increasingly strange. She and Ping'er were in charge of the household in the West Mansion and spent every day together, so they were closer than other people.

The two talked about almost everything. Wu'er knew Ping'er's menstrual cycle. How could it be that it was still half a month away, and yet it was already starting now?
She was also a meticulous person, and her mind was focused on Jia Cong. She noticed that he was just eating with his head down and his expression was somewhat unnatural.

Wu'er suddenly remembered that Ping'er had been on night duty last night, and a romantic feeling arose in her heart. As someone who had been through it herself, she immediately realized what was going on.

Her pretty face flushed, and she chuckled to herself. That silly girl Qingwen was being fooled by the Third Master without even realizing it, yet she had such good intentions as to make brown sugar water for Ping'er.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

Early in the morning, maids came and went in the main hall of the courtyard, serving up various kinds of exquisite breakfasts.

Aunt Xue, along with her son and daughter, had been living in the Jia family mansion for many years, but apart from the house, all her internal and external expenses were paid for by herself.

The Xue family's fortunes have declined somewhat, but they are still maintaining a normal level of operation and remain one of the four major families in Jinling.

Although it wasn't as grand as the Rongguo Mansion, where Grandmother Jia, a woman of exceptional rank, had eight maids of the highest order.

However, the Xue family's daily expenses were exceptionally high, far exceeding those of ordinary wealthy families.

Although they have moved to the capital for many years, they still maintain the Jiangnan style. There are few buns or noodles on the table, and most of them are porridge, soup, fish balls, sweet and salty pickled foods.

Not long after Aunt Xue sat down, her daughter Baochai entered the main room, dressed in her usual attire.

She wore a bright pink palace flower on her hair bun, which made her look exceptionally beautiful and eye-catching.

Aunt Xue knew her daughter's habits well. She didn't like flowers and powder in her daily life. Although she was born with a beautiful face, she didn't like to dress up and was too plain.

Today, she actually changed her tune and wore the palace flowers that are usually worn by officials, which is a good omen.

He laughed and said, "Last time you said you didn't want these palace flowers and were going to give them away. Luckily you kept them for yourself. These palace flowers really look good with you."

Your usual simple and plain style is how I dress at my age. You've just turned fifteen, in the prime of your youth, and this is exactly how you should dress; it makes you look proper.

Baochai laughed and said, "I gave away all of my original ones. Sister Feng said that it's not fashionable for her to wear them now, so she told me to keep her share for myself."

I just wanted to try it out for the first time, but after wearing it, all my girlfriends said it looked good and they all wanted to wear it too, so I didn't want to be the only one wearing it.

...The mother and daughter were chatting when Xue Pan sauntered in, sat down, and ate a few bites.

He said, "Sister, have you discussed the matter of renting out the shop in the mausoleum with Cong-ge'er? This is such a good idea, we should get on it quickly."

Jinling Xinchun is now quite powerful, and many people are eyeing its advantages. They don't want anyone to beat them to it.

Baochai said, "Although the idea came from me, it's not my place to tell Brother Cong."

Upon hearing this, Xue Pan's face immediately fell, and he said, "Sister, I apologized for my mistake last time when I spoke carelessly. Why are you still angry?"

Baochai said, “It’s not that I’m still angry inside, which is why I’m not going to talk to Brother Cong about it. It’s just that it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to bring it up myself.”

"Now, my mother is in charge of the household, and my brother is the eldest son who will inherit the family business. I'm just a girl, and logically, I shouldn't interfere in matters of the family business. Others will laugh at me if they hear me."

Aunt Xue said, "Your sister is right. Although she is smart, she shouldn't always be the one to show her face in public. The Jia family is a prominent family that values ​​rules and etiquette."

Xue Pan said dejectedly, "I really regret it now. I shouldn't have fallen out with Cong Ge over such a trivial matter. Now I can't even talk to him."

Baochai said, "I've thought of that too. After all, Mom is an elder, so it's not appropriate for her to speak up. It would be best if my brother went to say it."

Since the elder brother and Cong brothers couldn't communicate, they could only find someone to mediate. Once the word got out, Cong brothers would also know about it.

"My mother and I will discuss this with Cong and his brother again. This will make things more logical. The Jia family is large, and this will prevent others from gossiping."

……

Xue Pan was careless and could only listen to the surface meaning. When his sister said that the matter could be done, he was overjoyed and ignored everything else.

Aunt Xue, however, sensed a hidden meaning in her daughter's words. She was worried that the large number of people in the Jia family would cause gossip.

The Jia family will gossip about this matter, and the topic will always be the second wife, their own elder sister.

Back then, her sister falsely accused her daughter of having an affair with Cong-ge'er. If she hadn't spoken up and silenced her sister, her daughter might have been ruined.

The daughter was always extremely wary of this matter. If she were to bring it up with Cong-ge, and it were to be accomplished, the news would surely spread throughout the Jia family.

The older sister had always been jealous of Cong-ge'er. Once she learned about this matter, she felt even more that her daughter and Cong-ge'er were extraordinary, able to accomplish great things with just a few words.

At that time, the elder sister's mind was clouded with resentment, and she was unhappy with the Xue family's close relationship with Cong-ge'er, which further weakened the power of the second branch of the family.

If she were to harbor any improper thoughts and try to use her daughter's past to sever ties between the Xue family and Cong-ge'er, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The daughter was unwilling to come forward, or even to do so herself, and instead sought a middleman to speak to her sister indirectly, hoping to put an end to her sister's hopes.

Baochai said, "We should find a middleman to speak with, but it shouldn't be someone outside the family. It would be best if it were someone from the Jia family, so that Brother Cong would feel at ease listening to him."

After much thought, I concluded that the best choice is Sister Feng. She is Cong-ge'er's eldest sister-in-law and also Mother's niece; no one else can find fault with her.

Aunt Xue couldn't help but applaud Baochai's words; her daughter's thoughts were indeed meticulous and ingenious.

Feng Yatou is indeed the most suitable person to mediate this matter through the Zhongta Bridge. Not to mention her shrewdness and ability, everyone is afraid of her.

She's not only my own niece, but isn't she also my sister's niece?

If my sister were to cause trouble over this matter, she would offend everyone in the family, and she would think twice about it.

Besides, Feng is younger than her and helps Cong manage the West Mansion. If she offends her because of this, the second branch of the family will have to be subservient to her for the rest of their lives.

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Baochai's idea is the best. It's definitely right to ask Feng'er for help. It's better to be lucky than early. Let me think about what to say first."

I'll talk to her when I have some free time today. Baochai doesn't need to come along. I'll cut the conversation short and save anyone from gossiping later.

"As long as Feng'er understands what I mean, and when Cong'er has his day off, we can all talk it out, and this matter will surely be resolved."

Xue Pan listened to his mother and sister's discussion, which was full of rules and strategies, and concluded that the matter was bound to succeed. He was overjoyed.

He agreed to rent out all the shops in his house to Xinchunhao, which truly pleased him.

He no longer had to worry about managing the family business; he could lie down and collect rent every day, only needing to enjoy himself. What a carefree life!

No need to put up with those old shopkeepers anymore, just send them all home, wouldn't that be great?

He knew his mother and sister would never do such a thing, but even renting out a few shops would save him a lot of trouble, at least he wouldn't have to look at the account books so much...

Seeing his mother and sister talking slowly and deliberately, he became increasingly anxious and kept urging his mother to go talk to Sister Feng.

Aunt Xue and Baochai were discussing countermeasures. After all, even if this matter succeeded, there would be many follow-up matters, and it would take a lot of thought to figure out how to handle them.

She was getting annoyed by her son's nagging, so she scolded him a few times and sent him back to his room.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Wang Xifeng's Courtyard.

As soon as the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) passed, the sun rose in the east, its warm rays illuminating the courtyard. Amidst the biting cold wind, there was also a sense of languor.

Under the eaves in front of the main house, four or five thrush cages were hanging. The maid Feng'er moved each cage to a sunny spot so that the birds could bask in the sun.

Then, one by one, the cage covers were lifted, and the thrushes could be heard hopping around in their cages, chirping crisply in the sunlight.

Feng'er carried a small copper kettle, running back and forth, adding water to each birdcage.

The eldest daughter, wrapped in a red satin fur swaddle, looked even more adorable and fair-skinned. She was being held in Wang Xifeng's arms, who was teasing and talking to the birdcage.

Whenever the thrushes hopped and chirped, the eldest sister would laugh, and her little hands, covered by a handkerchief, would wave unconsciously.

Wu'er, accompanied by her maid, was approaching from the other side of the veranda, bathed in the warm morning light. She reached out to tease the eldest daughter.

Wang Xifeng asked with a smile, "Why don't I see Ping'er with you? You two used to be inseparable, always together."

Wu'er's face stiffened slightly, a blush rising to her cheeks. Just as she was about to speak, a little maid came running over.

She said, "Second Madam, I received instructions from Sister Qingwen to come and deliver a message that Sister Ping'er is not feeling well and needs to rest for a day, so she won't be coming today."

After the maid left, Wang Xifeng looked puzzled and said, "This is a bit strange. Ping'er is not feeling well, so it would be more convenient to have you deliver the message."

How did it become that Qingwen had to send someone to deliver the message? Qingwen is always straightforward and not one to meddle.

I think it was probably Brother Cong who assigned her; no one else could order this girl around.

"Fifth Brother, what's wrong with Ping'er? She's always been very healthy; she never even sneezes all year round."

Wu'er blushed and said, "I checked on her when I came. She's fine and just needs a day of rest."

Wang Xifeng smiled mischievously and said, "I guessed right. It must have been Brother Cong who assigned Qingwen. He wouldn't even dare to order you around, so he must have done something good."

You blushed as soon as you said that? Even a fool could see something was up. Tell me honestly, was Ping'er on night duty last night?

Wu'er blushed and said awkwardly, "Second Madam already guessed it, why did you still ask me?"

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Brother Cong has been raising Ping'er for half a year, and only now is he finally able to mount his horse and ride in the spring. He is really particular."

Wu'er felt her face flush as she listened to Wang Xifeng's explicit lewd remarks; she wanted to laugh but was too embarrassed to do so.

The sun shone brightly, the sky was clear and bright, and the thrushes chirped noisily.

Wang Xifeng said sassily, "Caixia in Baoyu's room is heavily pregnant. Look how proud the Second Madam is. She goes to Rongqing Hall to show off every few days."

They also ordered the government to provide two ounces of bird's nest every month, specifically for Caixia's pregnancy. Most of the good stuff in the kitchen ended up in that girl's stomach.

Only our eldest son's family hasn't made a move, and Brother Cong hasn't been idle either. He's slept with all of you, so why is it all talk and no action?

"When will we have a child? That's when things should get serious. We can't let the second wife steal the spotlight."

Wang Xifeng was telling bawdy jokes under the sun, and she was getting quite amused by it, which made Wu'er so embarrassed that she didn't know whether to stand or leave.

Suddenly, laughter was heard coming from the corridor. Someone said, "Feng girl, who are you trying to steal the limelight from so early in the morning?"

"You're a mother now, yet you still speak so boldly and without restraint. Be careful not to embarrass the girl next to you."

Wang Xifeng saw Aunt Xue approaching with a smile, followed by her maid Tongxi.

She laughed and said, "Aunt, what brings you here so early in the morning? I was just killing time anyway, so I was grinding my teeth with Wu'er."

Aunt Xue laughed and said, "You're never serious. I've come to see you with something important."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Aunt, what important business do you need me for? Let me make it clear first: although you are an elder, you can't ask me to run errands for nothing."

Just like when I was still married, you would give me lucky money during holidays, otherwise you couldn't shut me up.

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "You've done me a serious favor, so not only will I give you a reward, but your brother will also owe you a debt of gratitude." (End of Chapter)