Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Baoqin bowed to Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and others, then followed Jia Cong out of Rongqing Hall. The two walked side by side, looking quite harmonious.

Madam Wang felt uneasy, thinking that Baoqin's response was appropriate. She had initially thought he was a good person, but it turned out he was also confused and couldn't distinguish between close and distant relatives.

She was the head maid's maid, didn't she know that Baoyu was her own brother? She became familiar with outsiders and offended Baoyu. She really didn't understand the difference between superiors and inferiors.

Grandmother Jia didn't care, thinking it was just a trivial matter. Since it was official talk, there were bound to be some taboos, and it was fine if others didn't listen.

Moreover, the fact that Yuan Chun and Jia Cong were close was a good thing in Grandmother Jia's eyes.

The eldest granddaughter will be returning home in the middle of the year. The second branch of the family is in an awkward position. Yuan Chun's harmonious relationship with Jia Cong will be of great benefit to the future harmony of the family.

Baoyu watched the two leave, his face full of resentment and indignation, but he didn't look back as he walked away with his zither, completely ignoring them. There was no way Baoyu could stop him.

Jia Zheng coldly snorted at Bao Yu: "Since it is news from the palace and involves entanglements in officialdom, there must be many taboos. How can it be said in public?"

You spend your days loafing around in the inner quarters, showing no awareness of the importance of officialdom, yet you love to talk too much and make yourself a laughingstock.

"After you go to the Imperial Academy, you must study diligently and make progress. If you continue to be restless and unruly, you will not only be ashamed to death, but I will be ashamed to death as well!"

Baoyu originally had a heart full of grief and indignation, and a heroic spirit, but he felt that Jia Cong was worldly and hypocritical, and that he was obstructing people's innocence in everything he did, which was simply incomprehensible.

Jia Zheng's admonitory words came crashing down upon him in an instant, instantly clearing his mind, dispelling his anger and folly, and making him listen with trembling fear and bowed head...

……

At this moment, Lin Zhixiao's wife came in and said, "Grandma, there's a message from the East Courtyard and a message from the Xia family that Mrs. Xia and Miss Xia are coming over for a visit."

We've come to wish the old lady and family a Happy New Year, but the second master and mistress are at the west residence. We've come to ask for your instructions on how to receive and arrange their stay.

Seeing that Baoyu was being scolded again, Lady Wang felt helpless. When she heard that the Xia family mother and daughter had come to visit, she quickly changed the subject.

He said, "Grandma, the Xia family values ​​etiquette. Madam Xia said before the New Year that she would pay New Year's respects to you, and today happens to be the second day of the Lunar New Year."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Wouldn't that be great? Let's not go to the East Courtyard. It would be more convenient to invite her to Rongqing Hall, and I could also have a chat with Baoyu's new wife."

Upon hearing the words "new bride," Baoyu, in front of Daiyu and the other sisters, was inevitably terrified and deeply ashamed, feeling that his lifelong integrity had been lost.

Madam Wang was delighted to hear this. Her daughter-in-law was exceptionally beautiful and came from a wealthy family. This marriage was a source of pride for the second branch of the family, and she naturally wanted to show it off.

Then he took Baoyu and got up to go out of the hall to greet the Xia family mother and daughter. In front of Daiyu, Baoyu wanted to prove his innocence and was too busy trying to stay away from this matter.

Although Miss Xia was beautiful, she was still not as beautiful as Lin Daiyu. However, with Jia Zheng present, Baoyu dared not disobey and could only compromise.

……

In the Rongguo Mansion, in the inner courtyard with its covered corridors, Baoqin and Jia Cong walked side by side. The sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze stirred, causing her blue cloak to flutter softly.

The corridor was spacious and long, with few people walking around. Baoqin felt peaceful and content. She had never been alone with Jia Cong like this before, and she deliberately slowed down her pace.

Jia Cong slowed his pace and asked, "Sister Baoqin, what message does eldest sister have for me?"

Baoqin said, "Before the New Year, Prince Zhao often visited the palace to see the Empress. Several times, they discussed the matter of Prince Zhao remarrying. The Empress selected a woman from the Chen family of Langya for Prince Zhao."

Langya County was the fiefdom of the Emperor's former residence. The Emperor had approved of this marriage, and the palace had already issued three letters and six rites before the new year. The wedding would take place after the mourning period for the late Princess Consort.

The young woman said that since the major case involving the Jinling garrison, the emperor had developed a grudge against Prince Zhao, and there were rumors in the court that Prince Zhao would succeed him, which made people more suspicious.

The Queen Consort of Zhao died suddenly from illness, and rumors of her impending doom circulated in the palace. These various factors combined led to the King of Zhao's weakening influence over the year, and his popularity was no longer what it once was.

Baoqin paused here, turned and looked around the corridor, which was deserted and no one was walking around.

When Jia Cong saw Bao Qin slightly approaching him and smelled a delicate, feminine fragrance, his voice became even softer.

He said, "The young lady has been walking around the Empress's side every day and has already heard some rumors."

The Empress used the opportunity of Prince Zhao's remarriage to help him regain his connections and restore his former popularity, although the wedding was still some time away.

Therefore, it was common for people to visit each other during festivals, and King Zhao would hold banquets to ease the tensions among officials and nobles.

The eighth day of this month is Prince Zhao's birthday, and the Prince's mansion will hold a grand birthday banquet. When Prince Zhao and the Empress talked about the guests, they mentioned the Third Master twice, which seemed to indicate that they valued the Third Master quite a bit.

The girl said that the situation of the Prince of Zhao is delicate now. Any matter involving the royal family is a dangerous situation. She told the Third Master to be careful in all matters.

Even if he receives an invitation from the Prince's mansion, he cannot refuse due to social conventions. Third Master, you should be thoughtful and cautious in your response, lest you give others cause for criticism.

……

Upon hearing these words, Jia Cong felt a slight chill. Zhang Kangnian, a major criminal in the Jinling Guard case, was the cousin of the late Princess Zhao.

Zhang Kangnian was originally the commander of the Suzhou Guard. It was through the recommendation of Prince Zhao, Li Chongmao, that he was able to transition from military to civil service and rise to the high position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the secondary capital.

As a major criminal in the Nanjing Garrison case, he was killed by Du Hengxin, the main culprit in the case, to silence him after his whereabouts were exposed.

Zhang Kangnian's unexpected death left the question of whether Prince Zhao, Li Chongmao, was involved in the Weijun case forever a murky and unresolved matter.

Suspicion can sometimes be a deadly poison. Based on Jia Cong's understanding of Emperor Jia Zhao's temperament, this unsolved case was an indelible shadow in the emperor's heart.

Prince Kangshun had mentored Jia Cong, Prince Ning had worked with him as colleagues, and although Prince Zhao had tried to win him over, the two had no personal relationship whatsoever.

Moreover, there were rumors that the Prince of Zhao was going to inherit the throne, and people would be even more wary and sensitive about a prince of such status.

Jia Cong even felt that if the King of Zhao were truly wise and intelligent, he shouldn't have allowed such rumors to circulate in the court and among the people, letting them fester and become so deeply entrenched that they were now difficult to reverse.

Regardless of his reasons, Jia Cong would have kept his distance from the Prince of Zhao. Now that Yuan Chun had reminded him and given the opportunity beforehand, he would naturally be even more cautious.

She smiled and said, "This information is extremely useful, elder sister. It will help me prepare in advance. Please go back and tell elder sister that I will handle it with care."

……

The inner courtyard of Rongguo Mansion is lush with flowers and trees, with bridges and waterways. Several covered walkways meander through the courtyard, providing shelter from the wind and rain and facilitating easy access.

Because he was carrying a zither and slowed down, Jia Cong also strolled along at a leisurely pace. The two of them chatted for a while, which inevitably slowed down their journey.

Meanwhile, Lady Wang, accompanied by Baoyu, took the nearest covered walkway and arrived ahead of Jia Cong and Baoqin, where they met the Xia family mother and daughter who were entering the inner courtyard.

After Xia Jingui was betrothed by the Jia family, she knew that her fate was sealed. She felt resentful and angry that someone as virtuous as herself had been betrothed to a filthy woman like Baoyu.

But just thinking about Jia Cong on Hanzheng Street, riding his horse with great power, dashing and handsome, is enough to make one realize that he was a high-ranking official.

Even if her heart was filled with passion and she was confused and disoriented, she would throw all her resentment to the back of her mind. As long as it was for Jia Cong, she would rush headlong into even the most dangerous places.

……

Today, I went to pay my respects to Grandmother Jia. She inquired and learned that officials usually have ten-day holidays. Since Jia Cong is the head of two households, he will definitely be at home entertaining guests.

When visiting the West Mansion to offer New Year's greetings, there is a high chance of meeting one's beloved. Before leaving, one should carefully groom oneself and dress appropriately.

A few days ago, because Jia Cong passed the imperial examination, she became somewhat obsessed and bought a bunch of the Four Books and Five Classics. She studied and pondered them in her spare time and actually gained quite a bit of insight.

Thinking of the profound meanings in the book, it is clear that Jia Cong, a man well-versed in poetry and literature, was able to pass the imperial examination with his broad mind and vision.

Baoyu, that effeminate fellow, always dressed in bright red, like an actress, exuding vulgarity inside and out.

Jia Cong would definitely find it disgusting, at least he himself felt that way. Since Baoyu had called them both parasites, the two of them must have found common ground.

The Xia family was extremely wealthy, and Xia Jingui had many gorgeous clothes, but she secretly studied Jia Cong's preferences and was unwilling to reveal even a trace of vulgarity.

Today, her attire is elegant and refined, her makeup is delicate and radiant, she is beautiful and graceful, charming without being gaudy, pretty without being seductive, and radiant.

……

Just now, in Rongqing Hall, Grandmother Jia said in front of Daiyu and the other sisters that she wanted to meet the new daughter-in-law, which made Baoyu feel quite embarrassed.

Even though he was helping Madam Wang greet guests, he was somewhat reluctant, and he was worried about how to face Lin Daiyu when they met in the hall later. He was really in a difficult position.

But upon seeing Miss Xia's beauty, all his sordid thoughts vanished. He was filled with admiration, his legs went weak, and his face was filled with a dazed and beautiful expression.

Then, behind Miss Xia, there was Baochan, her pretty face slightly flushed, her bright eyes glancing sideways at him, secretly harboring feelings of spring, captivating his heart.

Baoyu recalled the time in Mengpo Studio when the two of them were intimately entwined and passionately entwined, which made him even more distraught and longing to go to Wushan again.

For the first time, he felt that his marriage was actually quite good; he would be surrounded by two beauties in the future, enjoying all the wonderful things in life—what a great blessing!

For a moment, they felt as if they were in ecstasy, as if they were floating on clouds, overjoyed. Although their eyes twitched and their eyebrows twitched, they only managed to restrain themselves. Madam Wang and Madam Xia could never have imagined that the three of them would be involved in such a scandalous and incestuous relationship.

With only thoughts of their children on their minds, they deliberately took a few steps ahead, leaving Baoyu and Xia Jingui alone.

……

Baoyu's mind flashed with images of the lively scene in the study, but he was not stupid after all and still knew the importance of things. He would never dare to be too blatant and provoke Baochan at this moment.

He tried to maintain proper etiquette and politeness by smiling and striking up a conversation with Miss Xia, but she didn't even glance at him. She just exchanged a few casual pleasantries and brushed him off.

Baoyu was captivated by her beauty, thinking only of her as an exceptionally beautiful and intelligent woman, and assuming the best of her.

What Baoyu perceived as Xia's coldness was interpreted as elegance and refinement, and a refined air about a young lady, which only increased his admiration and praise for her.

As soon as Miss Xia entered the inner courtyard, her beautiful eyes darted around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jia Cong and ease her months-long longing.

Baoyu pretended to be refined, rambling on and on. Miss Xia, not wanting to reveal her true feelings, just mumbled in response, secretly thinking that Baoyu was just talking nonsense.

As she surveyed the area, she suddenly spotted Jia Cong walking slowly across the covered walkway opposite her. He was wearing a sapphire blue robe with floral patterns, with a slender waist, straight back, and tall, elegant figure.

With his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, gentle and leisurely demeanor, outstanding and captivating appearance, her heart instantly felt as if it were filled with fine wine, a feeling of intoxication and bliss, and her chest pounded wildly.

But as his gaze shifted, he saw a woman walking beside Jia Cong, dressed in an exquisite palace gown and wearing a lotus-green shawl. She was beautiful and graceful.

Xia Jingui saw that she was dressed exquisitely, had a beautiful face, and a remarkable demeanor. Since she could come and go in the inner courtyard of the Jia family, and was not a girl of the Jia family, she must be a young lady from some noble family.

She tilted her head slightly, close to Jia Cong's cheek, and whispered in his ear. Jia Cong listened and nodded, and the two appeared very close and affectionate.

Xia Jingui was furious, as if she had overturned more than a dozen vinegar jars, and a sour smell rushed straight to her head.

These women from wealthy and powerful families, what talk of poetry, books, and etiquette? Aren't they all just sluts? Whether they're beautiful or rotten, they all want to seduce Cong-ge'er.

This woman is utterly shameless! In broad daylight, she's standing so close to Cong-ge'er. Does she want to kiss him? This is immoral and scandalous. Doesn't she fear being drowned in a pig cage?

……

Hearing Baoyu grumbling beside her, she almost lost her temper and cursed, but fortunately she knew the occasion and managed to hold back.

Just as he was about to ask Baoyu about the woman's background, he saw Jia Cong and the woman walk around the corner, their figures hidden by a cluster of flowers, so he had to swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

After the group entered Rongqing Hall, the mother and daughter paid their respects to Grandmother Jia and presented her with the New Year's gifts prepared by the Xia family. Grandmother Jia smiled and asked the maid to serve tea.

Miss Xia exchanged pleasantries with Yingchun and the other sisters, and the scene was very peaceful. Her face was radiant and elegant, and her previous unpleasantness had completely disappeared.

Moreover, her words showed great respect and affection for Yingchun, which made Yingchun have a very good impression of her.

Daiyu had a gentle and serene expression, but she was not overly friendly with Miss Xia, treating her with only polite formalities.

Tan Chun greeted her with a smile because she was her brother's sister-in-law, but she was somewhat wary of her.

Thinking back to yesterday when my third brother heard about Miss Xia, his face showed displeasure; he didn't like her interacting with the sisters in the family...

……

As everyone was chatting and laughing, Musk Moon lifted the curtain and entered the hall, saying to Yingchun, "Miss, Chen Changji, the official of the Ministry of Revenue, and his wife have come to pay their respects to the Third Master."

Now that they have arrived at the main hall of the outer courtyard, please invite Third Master and Miss to come over for tea.

Daiyu said, "Second sister, I have seen the name card that Third brother received. Chen Changji, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is the eldest son of Minister Chen Mo of the Ministry of Personnel."

She said to Grandmother Jia, "Grandmother, Minister Chen of the Ministry of Personnel once helped my father, and our two families have always been on good terms. I will go and help my third brother receive the female relatives."

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Since we are officials with a long-standing friendship, you may go ahead and support Cong-ge'er. Let your second sister keep me company."

Daiyu quickly agreed, and then said to Mushe, "Third Brother escorted Sister Baoqin out of the mansion, and now he is probably at the second gate."

Go and tell my third brother that I'll be waiting for him at the East Mansion.

Musk Moon hurriedly went out of the hall to speak to Jia Cong, while Daiyu bowed to the elders in the hall and then left Rongqing Hall with Zijuan.

……

Baoyu felt very sad and unhappy when he saw Daiyu helping Jia Cong manage the household affairs, but he could only feel helpless.

But when Miss Xia saw this, her scalp tingled, she felt a sense of unease, and she was extremely resentful.

This Miss Lin's behavior is so pretentious, I don't know who she's trying to impress. She's an unmarried girl, not Cong's daughter-in-law, how dare she be qualified to receive Cong's female relatives?

I was right. She and that woman on the corridor were exactly the same, both wanting to get involved with Cong-ge. They were truly shameless and despicable.

The old lady didn't stop them, and Cong's sister didn't say anything either. Where did the Jia family's rules and etiquette go?

Even the most well-behaved man like Cong Ge'er would probably be led astray by them...

……

Although Baoyu was unwilling for Daiyu to help Jia Cong with household chores, he was still relieved when Daiyu left Rongqing Hall.

Otherwise, if Miss Xia stayed in the hall and Lin Daiyu had to accompany her, it would be too difficult for him, and he would feel too bad. How upset Lin Daiyu would be...

Moreover, as long as Jia Cong was not present, Baoyu felt relieved, his heart filled with a sense of peace and tranquility, and he felt a sense of superiority as soon as he felt free from some kind of pressure.

Mrs. Xia is an extremely shrewd and worldly person, and she is very good at using words to warm up people and build relationships.

Whenever she spoke, every word hit the mark perfectly, making Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang laugh heartily, and their casual conversation was very enjoyable and pleasant.

Mrs. Xia occasionally made remarks that touched on the younger generation, allowing her sisters, including Yingchun, to join in the conversation. She was truly witty and charming, always ready to engage with the younger generation.

Baoyu was also in high spirits, chatting with the sisters from time to time. He was enjoying himself in a long time, after all, he and the sisters had become quite distant.

Yingchun treated Baoyu's interruptions with politeness, while Xiangyun was uninhibited, saying a few words when happy and remaining silent when unhappy.

Although Tan Chun had some reservations about Bao Yu's behavior, she was, after all, his sister and brother, so she chatted with him for a while.

Only Xia-guniang seemed somewhat distant and unenthusiastic when she tried to strike up a conversation with Bao-yu, as if she were avoiding him.

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang observed this and felt that Miss Xia was dignified and knew the etiquette of a prominent family.

Even though she and Baoyu were engaged, as long as they were not officially married, she would still maintain the proper separation between men and women in public, which made her temperament and demeanor truly likable.

……

While everyone was chatting idly for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Grandmother Jia and Madam Xia were having a good time when Grandmother Jia said, "It's too boring for us old folks to keep you young girls company with our idle chatter."

Why not go out for a stroll? Miss Xia has been to the West Mansion twice, but the scenery in the East Mansion is even better. Let Er Yatou show you around.

From now on, we're all family, so it'll be easier for us to get to know each other.

Hearing this, Miss Xia was secretly delighted. She knew that the East Mansion was where Jia Cong lived, and she had long wanted to go there to get to know him better...

He laughed and said, "I have long heard that the East Mansion was originally the Ningguo Duke's Mansion, and later the Imperial Earl's Mansion. It was also elevated by the Emperor because of the merits of the Earl of Weiyuan."

Jin Gui had always been curious, but had never seen it before.

Lady Wang smiled and said, "Since that's the case, let's go for a stroll. Let Baoyu accompany you so he can take care of you sisters."

Upon hearing this, Tan Chun's face stiffened; she knew all too well that her third brother disliked Miss Xia.

He disliked Baoyu mingling in the inner quarters even more, which is why he established the rule in the East Mansion that men from outside the mansion were not allowed to enter.

Now that Miss Xia is an outsider, it's barely acceptable for her to visit the East Mansion.

They even let Baoyu go in openly. Given his love for red and color, who knows what outrageous things he might say or do when he sees the pretty girls inside.

If an accident happens, my third brother will most likely turn on me...

Yingchun smiled and said, "There's no need to trouble Brother Bao. It's perfect for us sisters to stroll around together and have some intimate conversations."

Since entering the Jia family mansion, Miss Xia has been thinking about Jia Cong and always wanted to find an opportunity to get close to him. So she became very cunning and kept a close eye on everything around her.

She was a quick-witted person by nature. Although Yingchun's words were polite and friendly, they contained a deeper meaning that she could not hide from them, and a thought suddenly occurred to her... (End of this chapter)