Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu Courtyard.

Upon hearing Xiren's words, Baoyu's mind brightened, and his dejected mood instantly turned into a warm current, making him feel immediately pleased.

He rubbed his hands excitedly and muttered to himself, "Such a good thing! Why is Madam hesitating? She's a bit confused."

Since the old lady is so kind and loving, my children should be raised in the West Mansion so that I can visit them every day and not neglect my filial duty to the old lady.

It's such a wonderful thing to be able to get close to the sisters in the family on a regular basis; why bother bringing Caixia back to the East Courtyard to hide things?

Baoyu's words of delight were unintentional, but Xiren listened with a sudden, strange feeling rising in her heart...

Although Second Master is usually muddle-headed, he actually said something insightful this time.

The lady was never resentful that Third Master Cong had inherited the Rong family's fortune; she was never one to give up.

She allowed the Second Master to stay in the West Mansion and never mentioned moving back to the East Courtyard, just so that the Second Branch could maintain its roots in the West Mansion.

Now that the Second Master is getting married and has to move back to the East Courtyard, the Madam must be feeling extremely uncomfortable.

If Caixia were allowed to have her pregnancy and give birth at the West Mansion, the old lady would likely dote on the child because of the Second Master.

This created an additional connection between the second wife's family and the West Mansion, which was actually a very good thing for the wife.

Why is Madam unwilling to get up? She even wants to send Caixia back to the East Courtyard to rest during her pregnancy. This is really not like Madam at all...

Xiren was intrigued by Baoyu's words. She was also someone who shared a room with Baoyu, yet things remained the same despite them sharing the same room.

She also asked Caiyun privately, and she said that the Second Master was the same shape, but Caixia was lucky enough to get pregnant after being slept with by the Second Master a few times.

To say that Xiren never had any doubts would be impossible, even for herself. Her thoughts were churning, yet she had no clue what to do with them...

……

Baoyu's thoughts were stirred by Xiren, and amidst his endless despair and helplessness, he saw a glimmer of hope.

He originally disliked Caixia for being pregnant, which made him lose his gentlemanly demeanor in front of a beautiful woman and become a fool who had to get married and have children.

These days he has been quite cold towards Caixia, treating her with indifference both inside and outside the home, and hasn't even glanced at her room in a long time.

Now that his wedding is imminent, he has reached a dead end and has no choice but to move out of his luxurious West Mansion.

Wanting to retain his former wealth and dignity, and still harboring an inextinguishable lust, he always needed to find something to rely on.

So the pregnancy and childbirth that had originally embarrassed him became somewhat of a rare commodity.

Baoyu felt a surge of anticipation. Just moments before, he had been looking dejected, but suddenly his expression brightened, and his round, white face was filled with a spring breeze.

He said, "I'll go check on Caixia. I don't know if her pregnancy is going well."

When Xiren saw Baoyu rushing out excitedly, she felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness and unease...

……

Baoyu Courtyard, Caixia Room.

Caixia was sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully sewing a long robe. Compared to when she first entered Baoyu Courtyard, her complexion and figure had become more plump.

Compared to when she was a maid, her complexion has become fairer and her complexion more rosy. She has shed her youthful immaturity and gained a more mature and charming look.

Just as she was concentrating on her needlework, the door was pushed open, and Baoyu asked with a smile, "Sister Caixia, what are you busy with?"

When Caixia heard Baoyu's voice, she panicked and cried out as she pricked her finger with a needle, drawing a bead of blood.

As she sucked on her finger, a sense of panic welled up inside her.

Caixia was deeply moved by the fact that she had just become pregnant, and Bao Erye, after a few days of novelty, often came to inquire about her well-being, which made her feel guilty and regretful.

But the good times didn't last long. Not long after, Master Bao suddenly turned cold and ignored him, never visiting his room again.

It seems that the tenderness and consideration she once showed was nothing more than a fantasy, a product of Caixia's wild imagination.

Furthermore, after Caixia became pregnant, she stopped having sex with Baoyu, and the two became increasingly estranged.

Before long, Caixia lost interest and stopped caring whether Baoyu cared about her. She just quietly and carefully took care of her pregnancy.

After all, the baby in her womb was the most important thing to her. She wanted to establish herself in the Jia family, and the only thing she could rely on was this child, not some young master Bao...

Because of the previous cold incident, Caixia was quite surprised when Baoyu suddenly entered the room, and her face showed surprise and doubt.

Baoyu saw that Caixia was sewing a long robe, made of the finest rain-blue soft silk with dark patterns, which looked quite pleasing to the eye.

She smiled and said, "Sister, you are such a considerate person. I haven't seen you leave your room these past few days. It turns out you made me a New Year's robe."

Although I rarely wear such simple floral patterns, I like anything my sister makes.

Caixia looked a little embarrassed and said, "It's all my fault for being so careless. I forgot that Second Master likes rich and beautiful colors."

I just think this material is pleasing to the eye. I heard that Second Master will be going to school after the New Year, and I'm worried that he might not be happy about it.

"Make a decent replacement robe for the Second Master, to bring him good fortune and make him happier."

Baoyu was deeply moved by Caixia's thoughtfulness and understanding of his feelings. He learned that she would be studying at the Imperial Academy after the New Year, which he found very displeasing.

He specially made a new robe for himself, sincerely trying to please himself.

Baoyu felt a warm glow in his heart. Not all the beautiful women in the world were aloof; there were always people who appreciated their good qualities.

Just like Caixia, even though she was heavily pregnant, she still took good care of herself and worked hard to make clothes for herself.

Baoyu was deeply moved. He sat down next to Caixia, took her hand, and uttered a string of sweet words, catching Caixia off guard...

……

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

Inside the room, Tan Chun sat at her desk, holding a copy of the Analects with annotations in her hand. Her pretty face was serious, and her slender hand held a shiny ruler, exuding a powerful aura.

Jia Huan sat beside the desk, a thick, soft cushion on the stool, reciting his lessons haltingly.

After nearly a month of recuperation, most of the wounds from his caning had healed. Although he was able to sit up, he was still not very agile.

Recently, Tan Chun has been going to the East Courtyard every other day to urge and inquire about Jia Huan's study progress, showing great focus and dedication to this matter.

Every time Tan Chun saw Bao Yu's arrogant and absurd words and deeds, she felt somewhat shocked.

His elder brother, who shared the same father, always felt that he was exceptional and the best young man in the world.

Little did they know how ridiculous and unbearable his words and actions were in the eyes of others.

If Baoyu hadn't been spoiled and indulged by his family, how could he have ended up in such a state? Tanchun would never want her brother to end up in such a state either.

Moreover, her third brother had given her a place in the Imperial Academy, which was the best opportunity for her younger brother to study, and she would not allow her brother to slack off and miss it.

Once Jia Huan's injuries had improved slightly and he was able to get up and walk with difficulty, Tan Chun became extremely attentive and strictly urged her younger brother to study.

……

Jia Huan memorized half of the Analects, though he stumbled a bit, but fortunately he finished it all, with only two mistakes being pointed out by Tan Chun.

He himself breathed a sigh of relief, but Tan Chun was not satisfied.

He scolded, "I've had this handwritten annotated collection of texts with you for half a month, but you haven't studied it at all. You've only memorized the introductory chapters, and you can't even read them fluently."

Jia Huan said with a bitter face, "Third sister, I'm not as smart as you. I've really put my heart into studying these past ten days. I've never worked this hard in school."

Tan Chun ignored his explanation and said, "I'll give you another half month. You need to memorize the whole book by the end of the year. If you dare to slack off, you'd better watch out!"

Although Jia Huan looked miserable, he didn't dare to say a word back when he saw Tan Chun's cold face and the ruler she was holding tightly in her hand.

The ruler in my sister's hand was given to her by the master himself; he will discipline her relentlessly, and she'll make sure she doesn't get away with it...

Tan Chun said, "I ask you, what is the meaning of 'A gentleman seeks harmony but not uniformity, while a petty person seeks uniformity but not harmony'?"
Don't try to fool me with empty talk. If you try, you'll regret it.

Jia Huan shivered, frowned, and pondered for a long time before finally managing to utter a few words that were difficult to express.

Tan Chun's pretty face flushed red, and anger surfaced in her eyes. She scolded, "You have already read this Analects in school. I copied Third Brother's annotation on this sentence."

You haven't absorbed a single bit of knowledge; you only know how to memorize by rote without seeking understanding. Even if you study for another ten years, you can forget about getting into school. Hold out your hand!

Jia Huan turned pale with fright and said, "Third sister, I'm your own brother, you don't have to be so fierce. I'll go back and learn it again, okay?"

Tan Chun bit her cherry lips and said, "If you don't obey me, I'll go tell the master and have him skin you alive!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan vaguely felt a piercing pain in his buttocks and instinctively reached out his right hand.

Tan Chun glared at him and said, "Show me your left hand. Don't try to fool me. You think you can get a few whacks with the ruler and then use that as an excuse to slack off on your studies?" Jia Huan was terrified. His sister was too clever. He had originally planned to get a few whacks with his right hand and then say he couldn't hold a brush, so he could have a few days of peace.

Unexpectedly, such tricks and schemes could not be hidden from his third sister at all. He cautiously stretched out his left hand, which was then tightly grabbed by Tan Chun.

He swung the ruler in his hand and struck without mercy, scolding, "It's one thing to be disobedient, but you also dare to try to be clever and lazy. Five more strokes of the ruler as punishment!"

The sound of sharp whipping and Jia Huan's cries of pain rang out from the side room. Aunt Zhao heard the commotion and ran into the room.

She said loudly, "Third girl, your brother is disobedient, you can discipline him, but why did you have to hit him? Huan'er isn't fully recovered yet."

Tan Chun angrily said, "Auntie, you should think this through. I'm not going to stay in this house forever. I'm only disciplining him because I care about you."

If Huan'er continues to be so lax, lazy, and lawless, she will become like Er... If she idles away her time and is good for nothing.

Who can the concubine rely on for the rest of her life? She will surely suffer endless scorn in this grand mansion and live a life of misery and misery.

Out of brotherly affection, the third brother was willing to support Huan'er's studies. He believed that if Huan'er achieved anything in his studies in the future, it would be the glory of his aunt for the rest of her life.

If my aunt doesn't care about appearances and is content to just drift through life like this, why should I bother? I'll just ignore her.

He slammed the ruler on the table and got up to leave in a huff.

……

When Aunt Zhao saw that her daughter was about to throw a tantrum, she panicked.

She wasn't very knowledgeable, but she still understood Tan Chun's words that Huan'er's academic success would be her life's glory.

Aunt Zhao thought of Cong-ge'er from the East Mansion, who had earned his future through studying and advancing in his studies, enjoying a dazzling and enviable life.

My daughter is closest to Cong-ge'er, so she must have been influenced by what she sees and hears and developed such thoughts. If Huan'er could do the same...

Aunt Zhao's heart immediately burned with excitement, and she said, "Third girl, if you could discipline your brothers and be as capable as Cong-ge'er..."

Aunt Zhao stopped mid-sentence and spat out a curse. She knew exactly what kind of person she was, since it was her own flesh and blood.

To say that a son, if disciplined by his daughter, could grow up to be like Cong-ge is utter nonsense; it would make any outsider ashamed.

Aunt Zhao swallowed hard and said, "Third girl, as long as you teach your brother to be even a fraction as capable as Cong-ge'er, you can beat this good-for-nothing as you please."

After saying that, she pointed and cursed, "You heartless worm, your sister is disciplining you for your own good."

If you dare to utter a single word of dissent, your sister has already slapped you, and I'll come and beat you up next!

Tan Chun became increasingly angry when she saw her birth mother speaking rudely, her pretty face turning red with anger, and she stomped her feet helplessly to the side.

Seeing that she looked unwell, Aunt Zhao said in a flattering tone, "You must discipline your younger brother properly, and don't be lenient with him. I'm going back to relax for a while."

As soon as Aunt Zhao stepped out, she heard Tan Chun shout, "Stretch out your hand! If you're not focused on your studies, don't even think about getting away with this!"

The sounds of whipping and her son's screams came from the side room again. Aunt Zhao's lips twitched slightly. She couldn't bear to listen anymore and fled back to the main room as if she were escaping.

……

Tan Chun struck him with the ten-pointed ruler before stopping. Jia Huan's left palm was swollen and red, his face was pale, and he grimaced, but dared not cry out in pain.

Seeing her younger brother's expression, Tan Chun hardened her heart and refused to let herself relax, saying, "Huan'er, it's not that I'm too strong as an older sister, it's that you've always been too unruly."

If we don't discipline them properly now, it will be useless to discipline them in a few years.

You're not young anymore; you can't keep living in a daze. You're an illegitimate child; if you don't succeed in your studies, you'll be good for nothing.

"If you're destined to be looked down upon your whole life in a wealthy family, and even if you have a wife and children, they'll still suffer with you, then what kind of man are you?"

Jia Huan seemed to be touched by these words...

He said, "I know my third sister means well, but I am still born out of wedlock. No matter how hard I study, I will still be born out of wedlock."

Tan Chun's eyes sparkled, seemingly full of spirit, and she said, "What do you mean by being useless? Even a concubine's child can achieve great things and can still be a pillar of the family."

Third brother was born out of wedlock. Do you know what kind of life he lived in the East Wing Courtyard back then?

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan seemed to perk up and said, "Although my third brother was born out of wedlock like me, he had a much more miserable childhood than I did."

I heard my aunt say that when my third brother was ten years old, he broke a purple jade ruyi belonging to the master and was beaten to death by the master.

Everyone thought he was going to die, but thanks to his wet nurse and maid who stayed by his side for two nights, he was pulled back from the brink of death. The master is a real scoundrel.

Although the master would beat me, he wouldn't be this cruel. I live a much more dignified life than my third brother..."

Tan Chun noticed Jia Huan's nonchalant expression, as if he thought he was luckier than his cousin, and seemed rather smug and even a little gloating...

Her pretty face flushed red with anger. She grabbed the ruler and yelled, "You dare to tease Third Brother? You're asking for a beating!"

……

When Jia Huan saw his sister lose her temper, he was startled. He had been so smug that he had forgotten how protective his sister was of his third brother, Cong. He had just stepped on a hornet's nest.

She hurriedly tried to defend herself, saying things without thinking: "Third sister, I misspoke, okay? The master and Third Brother Cong are both scoundrels..."

Ignoring Jia Huan's nonsense, Tan Chun said with a straight face, "Since you know the suffering of Third Brother back then, why are you now famous throughout the world and successful in everything?"

Jia Huan said, "Because my third brother is excellent at studying, he always comes out on top in the exams, and no one can compare to him."

The old master Dai Ru from the school once said that he had only ever seen one person in his entire life who was so capable and so diligent in his studies.

The old man also said that someone like Third Brother, even if not born into a noble family, but into a poor, destitute household, would still rise to prominence.

Tan Chun noticed the excitement on her younger brother's face, and her expression relaxed slightly.

He said, "Grandpa's words are very good. Huan'er, you must remember them carefully. As long as you are willing to study hard, no matter what your background is, you will always stand out."

Your third brother was born out of wedlock, just like you. Before he became famous, he had an even harder time than you, but he achieved his current glory and respectability through his own hard work.

Since your third brother can do it, you will surely succeed in your studies as long as you are willing to work hard.

Jia Huan was somewhat skeptical and said, "Third Sister, there are very few people like Third Brother in the world. He's incomparable to everyone."

Even if I studied my hardest, I could never be as good as him…

Tan Chun said, "There aren't many people like Third Brother, but there are tens of thousands of people in the world who study and pursue higher education. Are you not even as good as one of them?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Huan lowered his head and remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

Tan Chun's eyes flickered slightly as she said, "I know you've always envied your second brother since you were little, thinking that he was pampered by his family and that everything he did was glamorous."

Jia Huan, with his neck stiff, said, "Baoyu is no better than me. He's just as bad at studying. He only surpasses me in everything because he's the legitimate son."

Everyone spoils him like he's the emperor, while I'm worthless. I'm not having it!

Tan Chun said calmly, "It's not a bad thing for a person to be dissatisfied, but they should use that dissatisfaction in the right way."

Your second brother comes from a more noble family than you, but as long as you study hard, you will also have strengths that he doesn't have.

The master will not be too demanding of you, and will allow you to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) like your third brother, enter the Hanlin Academy, and become famous throughout the land.

If you study hard and are able to go to school and achieve some success, you will be successful and proud. No one in your family will dare to look down on you, and your father will value you.

Whether you are born of a concubine or a legitimate child, you are in no way inferior to anyone else…

After Tan Chun finished speaking, she quietly looked at Jia Huan and noticed a glimmer of light in her brother's eyes that she had never seen before.

Jia Huan said, "I understand what Third Sister means, I will definitely study hard!"

Hearing his words, Tan Chun couldn't help but smile. This rascal wouldn't budge no matter how hard she tried.

Mentioning the name Baoyu was surprisingly more effective than ten strokes of the ruler…

Tan Chun returned the annotations to Jia Huan and got up to return to the East Mansion.

Jia Huan suddenly said, "Third sister, I heard from my aunt that on the fifteenth, the old lady is going to watch a grand opera in the main hall. Could you take me to see it, third sister?"

Tan Chun frowned slightly. At present, she was most afraid of Jia Huan going to the West Mansion, but she couldn't tell anyone the reason.

He said impatiently, "You are not allowed to go. These sensual pleasures will distract you from your studies. Stay home and focus on your studies."

Jia Huan's face flushed red as he said, "I... I didn't just go to see the opera; I haven't seen Caixia in a long time..."

Tan Chun raised her eyebrows after hearing only half of what was said, her pretty face flushed red, and her bright eyes were filled with anger.

Before Jia Huan could finish speaking, she interrupted him, shouting, "Shut up! If you dare mention her again and cause trouble, you'll be dead!" (End of Chapter)