Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 798 Clan Law and Family Style

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Wang Xifeng's pretty face turned cold, and every word she uttered was like a knife. When Baoyu heard about his father, he immediately revealed his true colors, and his righteous and stern words turned into a dog chasing a cat.

Feng'er is a quick-witted and perceptive person. Having been by Wang Xifeng's side for many years, she has become very adept at understanding things and is extremely perceptive of her master's thoughts.

As soon as Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she responded crisply, her hands and feet moving nimbly and quickly. Without saying another word, she strode out of the hall.

Grandmother Jia was anxious to stop him, but Feng'er was quick and swift. In the blink of an eye, he lifted the curtain and disappeared in a flash.

Grandmother Jia complained, "This little girl is too quick on her feet. Does she really need to be so diligent about this kind of thing?"

Feng'er, Baoyu is still young and doesn't understand the ways of the world. As his sister-in-law, you should teach him more. Why did you say such hurtful things to him?

It's not a big deal, why bother inviting his father? He'll start yelling and cursing, causing chaos and making the whole family miserable.

"Yuanyang, hurry up and go after that girl. Tell her it was me."

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Baoyu's tense body instantly relaxed, and he seemed to have lost half his courage, no longer daring to speak freely.

However, his body grew increasingly broad, his internal energy was strong but his spirit was weak, his mind was in turmoil, a sticky cold sweat broke out on his back, and he felt chilly all over, still shaken and unable to calm down.

Wang Xifeng said she was going to call Jia Zheng, but that was just an attempt to suppress Baoyu's arrogance.

She knew very well that as long as Grandmother Jia was in the room, she would never let Baoyu suffer a great loss. She was just bluffing and using this as a means to control the situation.

She said, "Grandma, I was so anxious that I lost my mind. I really don't know what to do with Brother Bao's temper."

Since the Cong brothers inherited the title and the mansion, the inner courtyard of the West Mansion has been their residence. Xiao Hong keeps Rongxi Hall tidy every day, just waiting for the Cong brothers to stay there.

Since the imperial decree of succession was issued, Cong and his brother have never spent the night at the West Mansion. Although he did not say it, his granddaughter-in-law understood the implication.

It was no surprise that the old lady and the first wife lived in the inner courtyard of the West Mansion, as well as me and Madam You. We were all single wives of the same generation.

"Brother Cong's actions are a great honor for us; this is the proper conduct of a distinguished young master, befitting the dignity of a Hanlin Academician."

……

Although Wang Xifeng didn't spell it out clearly, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters, even though they were still young ladies, understood the meaning behind it.

Having spent half her life as a widow in the inner quarters, Grandmother Jia felt a chill in her heart. Since the Ningguo Mansion was raided, Grandmother Jia took it upon herself to support You Shi in the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Zhen and Jia Cong were of the same generation, and You Shi was not yet thirty. She was a beautiful widow, and Wang Xifeng was also in her early twenties. At present, she was practically a widow.

There has always been much gossip surrounding widows. If Wang Xifeng hadn't spoken up today, Grandmother Jia wouldn't have realized that there was a taboo behind Cong-ge'er never spending the night in the West Mansion.

But upon closer examination, it makes a lot of sense. Wang Xifeng was his sister-in-law, while You Shi was a distant cousin, which could easily lead to gossip.

Back then, the Ningguo Mansion had a tarnished reputation, with rumors circulating that it kept a younger brother-in-law as a mistress. Although Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng knew the details, they always kept it a secret and dared not utter a word about it...

Wang Xifeng's sudden mention of this topic was not without reason; both Wang Xifeng and You Shi were in situations that easily attracted gossip.

No wonder Cong-ge'er doesn't frequent the West Mansion much; he's truly shrewd as a devil. With his official position and reputation on his shoulders, how could he not cherish his reputation?

In comparison, Cong-ge'er is not yet married and is the head of the West Mansion, so he has fewer concerns about entering and leaving the inner quarters, and others will not gossip.

Baoyu was originally unmarried, which was barely acceptable, but now that he is engaged and the woman in his room is pregnant, the situation is quite different.

He is from a distant branch of the family, and if he gets married and still lives in the inner quarters of the West Mansion, it would be too embarrassing to talk about.

No wonder Feng was so enthusiastic, speaking so bluntly and so eager to get rid of Baoyu; it turns out she was afraid of ruining her reputation...

……

Once Grandmother Jia understood this, even though she doted on Baoyu, she dared not contradict Wang Xifeng.

Otherwise, if he leaves behind a legacy of indulging his sons and causing chaos within the inner palace, a noblewoman of the Duke's rank would be ruined in her later years, and people would still criticize her behind her back even after she dies.

At this moment, Baoyu's momentum had been instantly extinguished by Jia Zheng's power, but Wang Xifeng showed no sign of giving up.

Seemingly speaking with deep meaning, he continued, "Brother Bao and Brother Cong are the same age, only one month younger."

Even if you are not as good as Brother Cong in your studies, or as outstanding in your abilities, you should at least learn from Brother Cong's demeanor and bearing, so as not to disgrace the prestige of a family of scholars.

Baoyu was still filled with fear, thinking that Yuanyang had been gone for a long time and had not returned yet. He wondered if she had found Feng'er, and if his master had returned home...

He was filled with fear and worry when he heard Wang Xifeng's scathing words, saying that he was inferior in both studying and ability, and that he was from a family of scholars.

Every word was like a knife cutting into him, or like oil being poured on a fire. Baoyu was agitated, his whole body trembling slightly, whether from fear or anger, it was hard to tell.

Seeing that Baoyu looked unwell, Grandmother Jia thought that if she didn't stop her, Feng'er's sharp tongue would suffocate her grandson.

He quickly said to Baoyu, "I have already discussed this matter with Cong-ge'er. It's also because your wife is unreliable and forgot to tell you, which has caused a lot of gossip today."

No one is allowed to mention this again. Just do what needs to be done. Feng is your elder sister-in-law. Saying a few words to you won't hurt you. There's no need to get so anxious and upset.

I see you don't look well either. Go back and rest early. Jade, go and call Xiren over. Baoyu doesn't go out with a maid anymore, and they're getting more and more careless."

After listening to Grandmother Jia's rambling, everyone knew that she was trying to change the subject and smooth things over, trying to find a way out for her precious grandson, so naturally no one interrupted.

Seeing that Grandmother Jia had hinted at it and that Baoyu's move out of the West Mansion was now a done deal, Wang Xifeng naturally knew when to stop and ceased her verbal abuse and sarcasm towards Baoyu.

……

On the covered walkway in the inner courtyard, Emerald, along with Xiren and Caiyun, were heading towards Rongqing Hall. The three of them were walking in a hurry.

Along the way, Xiren asked about the jadeite incident, and the jadeite explained the whole story clearly.

He added, "Xiren, you've been with Master Bao your whole life, so try to persuade him a little. Every time something happens at Rongqing Hall, it makes the whole family tense."

If Master Bao had just said a few less words, none of this would have happened. There are no gold ingots to pick up in the West Mansion, so why should this matter cause any worry or anxiety?

Let's all stand aside and see clearly. Whether it's right or wrong, everyone knows it like a mirror in their hearts. Given Master Bao's temperament, the east wing is much more peaceful..."

Xi Ren frowned and said, "How could I not have tried to persuade him? I have a lot of grievances to share. Second Master has been favored since childhood and has a high opinion of himself. How could he possibly listen to advice?"

The three of them entered Rongqing Hall. Grandmother Jia complained to Xiren, but it was just a way to change the subject, relieve Baoyu's embarrassment, and give him a way out.

Xiren was bewildered by Grandmother Jia's scolding. Although she felt wronged, she knew from Emerald's explanation that things were not going well, so she could only nod and agree.

She and Caiyun helped Baoyu out of the hall. Although Baoyu was unwilling, he was worried that Jia Zheng might hear the news and storm into the hall. He dared not stay there any longer.

He was led out of Rongqing Hall in a panic, and only when he was some distance away from Rongqing Hall did he dare to beat his chest and cry loudly.

Although Xiren had a headache, she and Caiyun still tried to comfort her.

After making a scene for a while, Baoyu returned to his own courtyard, completely bewildered.

……

In Rongqing Hall, after Xiren took Baoyu out, and after this commotion, everyone lost interest in gossiping.

Just then, when Yuanyang brought Feng'er back, Grandmother Jia hurriedly asked what had happened.

Yuanyang laughed and said, "Feng'er is too fast. I barely managed to catch up. If I had been a couple more steps slower, she would have been out of the West Corner Gate."

Grandmother Jia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Otherwise, if her son had heard the news, her son Baoyu would have been in trouble again. But could the matter of Rongqing Hall really be kept secret?

Seeing that the old lady was somewhat tired, the sisters chatted with her for a while before getting up to say goodbye and having Yuanyang help Grandmother Jia to the inner hall to rest.

On the veranda outside the hall, Shi Xiangyun was full of pent-up frustration, and Tan Chun was also feeling depressed. Daiyu and Baochai pulled them along to go back to the East Mansion to play chess and relieve their boredom.

Yingchun and Wang Xifeng walked behind, chatting about household matters between their respective households.

Wang Xifeng said, "Although I have never met my younger sister, I have heard a lot about her over the years. She is a virtuous and generous young lady."

The second sister is the eldest among the sisters. She spent time with the eldest sister when they were young, so she knows her character better. Since you think this matter is alright, I trust you.

However, given the Second Madam's personality, and to be frank, the Second Sister must know perfectly well that she is wary of Cong's brothers, which is a headache for everyone.

I'm worried that if Baoyu goes away, she might use her younger sister as a go-between and cause some trouble.

Not only will the two families be entangled in a mess, but they might even accidentally damage the jade bottle while trying to catch a rat, harming innocent people for no reason.

Yingchun smiled and said, "I understand what Sister Feng means. Every family has its own problems. When everyone in a family is trying to make the best of a situation, it's impossible to keep everything clear."

The eldest sister entered the palace when she was just over ten years old and spent ten years of her life there, all to support the family's prosperity. This was extremely difficult for a girl.

Now that she has left the palace and returned home, the old lady feels sorry for her eldest granddaughter and wants her to stay by her side. It is not reasonable for her to stop her.

Although my sister and I haven't seen each other for ten years, my brother Cong has visited the palace several times to see our eldest sister. He says that after ten years of experience, she has developed a remarkable character and demeanor, far beyond that of ordinary young ladies. I trust my brother's judgment; perhaps it will be a good thing for our eldest sister to settle in the West Mansion. Even if the Second Madam causes trouble, our eldest sister can at least offer some reassurance.”

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "What you say makes sense. No matter how capable Brother Cong is, the person he chooses must be exceptional."

……

The two sisters-in-law chatted for a while before Yingchun took her leave and returned to the East Mansion. Wang Xifeng watched Yingchun's departing figure and sighed softly.

Although Cong and his brother and second sister are both capable, and their judgment of people is trustworthy, this eldest sister is likely to be a worry-free person.

But the siblings were young, one unmarried and the other unmarried, and they didn't understand much about human relationships or social customs. They hadn't figured out the ins and outs of the matter.

This young lady has been in the palace for ten years and is now past twenty, having missed the prime time for marriage.

In ordinary families, it would be difficult to find a proper husband at this age, and she would only be able to become someone else's second wife.

If the Rongguo Mansion is still managed by the second branch of the family, this younger sister can barely be considered the eldest legitimate daughter. Given the Rongguo family's prestige, she can still find a suitable husband.

But now the Jia family's fortunes have changed. The eldest son has inherited the title and taken charge of the family, while the second son has become a secondary branch. The eldest sister's status has plummeted, and things are not what they used to be.

Under these circumstances, it will be very difficult for this younger sister to find a respectable husband.

Moreover, the Jia family was a respectable noble family, and their family background was prestigious, so they cared a great deal about appearances when it came to marriage.

Given the old lady's noble status and the second wife's obsession with saving face, even if her younger sister couldn't get married, they would never allow her to remarry.

Most young women are raised to be housewives, and if they were to settle down in the western part of the city, they might have to stay there for many years.

If things really turn out that way, the second wife will have a long-term presence in the West Mansion, coming and going year after year, who knows how much trouble she will cause.

The Jia family's eldest and second branches have been entangled for half their lives, and Wang Xifeng gets a headache just thinking about it.

Cong Lao San, a boy in his late teens, and his second sister, a young woman as fresh as a budding flower, had no idea about the long-term implications...

……

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

A winter rain fell in the afternoon, and the sky was gloomy. Occasionally, maids would pass by on the veranda, all hurrying along to avoid the biting cold after the rain.

In contrast to the cold indoors, the study was filled with the gentle fragrance of incense, warm as spring, like another world.

The glass window beside the desk, due to the alternation of hot and cold temperatures inside and outside, had formed a layer of delicate ice flowers, which shimmered with a faint, crystal-clear luster when reflected by the dim sunlight.

On the desk, fresh ink was ground, and the brush was used to apply it. Yinglian sat in front of the desk, practicing calligraphy. Her skin was as delicate and fair as snow, and her brows were adorned with rouge. She was incredibly beautiful and captivating.

She wore a light purple embroidered cross-collar long jacket, a white cross-collar jacket, an ivory white embroidered cotton skirt, and a red gold necklace around her neck.

Although there was still a hint of immaturity in her eyes and brows, she had already blossomed into a graceful and elegant woman, with a slender waist and exceptional charm.

Just as she was engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't notice the door being pushed open. Jia Cong walked in quietly, walked to her side, and glanced at her.

He laughed and said, "Your calligraphy is becoming more and more skillful; it's almost as good as Third Sister's."

Yinglian was startled awake and laughed, "I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't even see the young master come in. You're leaving the office so early today."

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "At the end of the year, there isn't much business at the yamen. Once it's done, there's no need to check in. So I'll head back to the manor early."

……

In fact, Jia Cong has been busy with many matters these past few days, but they are all private, so naturally he wouldn't tell the little maid much.

Since he was appointed as the head of the peace negotiations between the two states, the workshops outside the city have been entrusted to Liu Shizhen for management.

His main focus is on the meeting hall. A few days ago, he reached an agreement with Noyan Taiji, which preliminarily determined various matters concerning border trade in Ordos.

Yesterday, without stopping, a messenger flew to Jinling Xinchun Company to inform Qu Hongxiu about the Hetao border trade and to ask her to raise grain, tea, cloth and other supplies from Jiangnan as a backup.

At the same time, a letter was sent to the Liaodong Xinchun branch, instructing Liu Ping to select capable personnel, quickly assemble a border trade caravan, and proceed to Ningxia Town to await orders.

Awaiting the secret edict from the Ministry of War, we will meet with the caravan's guards, determine the route out of the pass in advance, and complete all preparations as soon as possible.

In the Tongwen Guan Peace Hall, daily consultations were held between the Great Zhou and the remnant Mongol states. Nearly half a month had passed, and the discussions were noisy and fruitless, amounting to nothing more than official rhetoric.

But beneath the grand and high-profile peace talks between the two powers, another special peace negotiation was being carried out in secret, with remarkable results and at a rapid pace...

After finishing all the crucial matters these past few days, Jia Cong could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Although his letters to Nanjing and Liaodong could be delivered within three days by falcon splitting its feathers.

However, the secret edicts from the Ministry of War had to be delivered by fast horses via military post, and the caravans selected by the five military camps also had to travel long distances to reach Ningxia.

In addition, it would also take a considerable amount of time for Noyan Taiji to send letters to the Ordos tribe and receive a reply from Jirang Khan.

So all he had to do now was wait, and naturally he took a day off to return to the Earl's mansion ahead of time.

……

Jia Cong glanced at Yinglian's calligraphy and smiled, "Your writing is getting better and better now, but the structure and strokes of these two characters could be a bit more rounded."

As he spoke, he picked up a calligraphy brush and placed it in Yinglian's hand, then reached out and held her small hand, supporting her soft, delicate shoulder with his left hand.

With both hands wielding the brush, he carefully guided and explained the strokes, and Yinglian, who was initially a little awkward, quickly grasped the concept. The two of them became increasingly in sync in their study of the strokes.

Yinglian felt Jia Cong gently put his arm around her shoulder, her pretty face flushed slightly, and her small hand was held in Jia Cong's palm, feeling exceptionally warm and comfortable.

Although she often spent time intimately with Jia Cong, she had never felt anything like this before. Her heart was pounding, and she felt dizzy and somewhat pleased.

The two were engrossed in their writing when they heard a voice from the corridor: "Lingguan, I just heard from the old woman in the inner courtyard that Brother Cong has returned to the mansion?"

Jia Cong recognized Baochai's voice, and then heard Lingguan say, "Third Master just returned. I saw him go into the study. I'll go and inform Miss Bao."

As soon as he released Yinglian's hand, he saw Lingguan enter the room with Baochai, followed by the maid Jinchuan.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "What brings you here, Sister Bao?"

Baochai smiled and said, "In the afternoon, the sisters were all talking in Rongqing Hall. Later, some trouble arose. After we all dispersed, we went to Second Sister's courtyard to have tea."

Lin Daiyu and her third sister are playing chess. I have something on my mind, so I thought I'd visit you.

You just happened to run into the old woman guarding the courtyard gate, who said that Brother Cong had just returned home and came over to talk to you about something.

Jia Cong asked, "What trouble happened at Rongqing Hall today?"

Baochai recounted in detail what had just happened at Rongqing Hall.

She sighed, "Actually, it's not a big deal. Although the sisters don't like Baoyu's random and strange remarks, they're nothing new anymore."

Jia Cong's expression was somewhat indifferent as he said, "The day I settled this matter with the old lady, the second madam also heard it with her own ears. She should have explained it to her son."

But I was right to be right that this matter would be long-winded.

My second sister-in-law, with her keen insight, laid out the truth, which was a clean slate and prevented things from becoming entangled and complicated.

We're all family, so I always try to explain things clearly, so that everyone can save face, take responsibility, and have peace of mind.

They only stop when people tear off all pretenses and confront each other head-on. Don't they find it boring?

Baochai smiled slightly and said, "It's just that she has something to rely on and won't give up until the very end."

But they didn't realize that everything boils down to reason; even with gratitude and affection, one cannot disregard propriety.

Whether something is reasonable or not is clear to everyone else, but Lady Wang and Baoyu go against the grain and often act with righteous indignation.

Although Baochai didn't spell it out clearly, Jia Cong understood perfectly that the reliance Baochai mentioned was the affection and gratitude she had for Jia Zheng.

As Madam Wang's niece, there were some things she couldn't say outright, but she saw through the crux of the matter.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Kindness is kindness, and right and wrong are right and wrong. They do not contradict each other, nor can they substitute for one another."

Upon hearing Jia Cong's words, Baochai and Jia Cong exchanged a smile, each understanding the other's meaning.

Jia Cong asked, "Sister Bao has something to say, but what is it?"

Baochai glanced at Jin Chuan, who looked uneasy, and said, "This matter is related to Jin Chuan's younger sister, Yu Chuan. Do you know from the brother that Qin Xiang's son is Qin Yong?"

(End of this chapter)