Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Outside the hall, there are two covered corridors with carved beams and painted rafters, and various birds such as parrots and thrushes hang under the eaves.

Bathed in the warm winter sun, the exquisite birdcage sheds its winter coat, and the chirping of birds rises and falls, adding a touch of elegance to early spring.

Several maids in red and green jackets stood outside the hall, their manners refined and their presence impressive. The curtain at the entrance was occasionally lifted, and maids often carried tea trays in and out.

In previous years, by the time the Lantern Festival approached, there were very few visitors from outside the area, and the relatives and friends who were supposed to come had already visited before the eighth day of the first lunar month.

After the tenth day of the first lunar month, families and relatives by marriage will send Lantern Festival gifts one after another. The gifts are simple, but everyone wants to have a lively and joyful time.

In the past two days, relatives by marriage, such as the Shi family of Baolinghou, the Li family of the Imperial Academy, the Wang family of Jinling, and the Xue family, have all sent Lantern Festival gifts.

As newlyweds, since the Xia family has not yet officially entered the family, they will certainly extend their greetings after receiving gifts from other families.

Originally, the household should have quieted down around the fifteenth of the month, but unexpectedly, the palace issued an edict appointing Jia Cong as the Assistant Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, to accompany the army north to fight against the Mongols.

After the news spread, old friends and relatives were all alarmed, and for the next few days, ladies from various families frequently came to visit and offer their congratulations.

At this moment, the hall was filled with guests, all dressed in fine clothes and adorned with precious jewels. Grandmother Jia was the center of attention, beaming with joy, surrounded by admirers like a star.

Since there were also young ladies from various families among the guests, Yingchun and Tanchun were also invited to accompany them.

……

Nowadays, in the capital city, which noble family is unaware of Jia Cong's dazzling official rank and title?

Ultimately, he rose to fame in the Battle of Liaodong, leading over a thousand elite firearms-wielding soldiers on a thousand-mile pursuit beyond the Great Wall, and pacifying the three Jurchen tribes in one fell swoop.

Now Jia Cong is leading another expedition, setting out north with six thousand elite Shenji Battalion troops, forming an independent army.

With several times the number of troops commanded in the Liaodong campaign, the hope of success naturally increased exponentially.

In recent years, Jia Cong has excelled in both literary and martial arts, and his reputation has become renowned. He is well-known among the families and relatives of his family.

Even if they perform another glorious act, they won't find it strange.

Therefore, no one doubts whether he can make meritorious contributions in this expedition.

Such an outstanding young man, once he achieves further glory, what a bright future awaits him! Just thinking about it makes one's heart burn with excitement.

However, Jia Cong is a general going to war, and the war involves secrets. It is not convenient for the heads of various families and male members to move around at this time, so as not to cause gossip.

However, when the women in the household visited Grandmother Jia during festivals, no one could find fault with it.

Even though many of these noblewomen only visited the palace twice during festivals, they didn't care much.

……

Each family, filled with inexplicable anticipation for the young patriarch of Rongguo's future career, naturally began to actively engage with each other.

This is also a common tactic used by powerful families to form alliances, leverage each other's influence, and achieve mutual prosperity.

Some of the old family friends, now fallen nobles, would bring lavish gifts to the matriarch's door, openly or secretly asking her for favors.

Because these families had fallen on hard times, but some of their sons were still in the army, they wanted to ask Jia Cong to give them a hand and let them join the army to fight against the Mongols.

He intended to take advantage of Jia Cong's good fortune, to benefit from his merits and achievements, and to somewhat revive his family's reputation.

Although Grandmother Jia was old, she was a shrewd woman in the inner quarters of the household, and she knew Jia Cong's temperament well. She knew that her grandson's methods were beyond her control.

She herself is already happy enough, so why would she want to encounter such bad luck? Why would she want to cause more discord between the grandmother and grandson for the sake of outsiders?

When faced with such a headache, one would naturally try to change the subject, or ask one's granddaughter Yingchun to fill in.

These past two mornings, Yingchun has been going to Jia Cong's courtyard to have breakfast with her brother, and has heard some stories about the expedition.

To ensure his brother's safety, he naturally didn't want anyone else to get involved, saying that Jia Cong left early and returned late every day, and he couldn't even see him.

He also mentioned that the conscription team had already been selected, and that the list of soldiers had been submitted to the palace for approval. He wondered if any changes would be made with the Emperor's special permission...

In short, the grandfather and grandson's chaotic and haphazard attempts at making things difficult made the women give up.

As the saying goes, when people are at the forefront of the tide, there are always those who push them forward. Those families whose schemes failed did not harbor resentment; on the contrary, they felt that the Jia family's power was growing and it was becoming increasingly difficult to follow suit and share prosperity.

……

The visiting ladies have frequently heard of Yingchun's name over the past two years.

Everyone knows that this second young lady of the Jia family is the elder sister of the Earl of Weiyuan, and now she is the head of two Jia families. Her status is noble and she should not be underestimated.

Now, seeing her beautiful face and dignified demeanor, although she doesn't talk much, she handles worldly situations with ease and grace, which is quite remarkable.

Many noblewomen had their own ideas, but they heard that this second young lady preferred quiet and seclusion, and although she was over the age of marriage, she still did not discuss marriage.

Although the Jia family had several other young ladies, they were either from different households or were cousins ​​of the Jia family.

Upon comparison, the eldest daughter of the Earl's mansion was not as illustrious as the young lady, but the third young lady who came with them was exceptionally beautiful and charming...

……

The noble ladies who came to visit the hall were all full of their own calculations. In their conversations and laughter, they all lingered around Jia Cong, making Lady Wang, who was present, feel extremely neglected.

Since the visiting ladies today are of different generations, and Wang Xifeng and Yingchun are among the younger generation, Grandmother Jia also asked Lady Wang to come and keep the guests company.

Lady Wang was initially pleased to receive a message from Grandmother Jia, feeling that she still held a position in the Jia family and that the old lady still valued her.

Moreover, since I don't need to worry about Wang Xifeng fussing over the tailoring when I go to the hall to entertain guests, I can dress up nicely and go happily.

Unexpectedly, after sitting in the hall for a short while, he realized that he had been completely fooled. It wasn't that the old lady valued him; she had only heard others praising Jia Cong.

However, Lady Li, the Marquis of Zhongjing, who was in the hall, was shrewd and capable. She noticed that Lady Wang's expression was not right. Although she could guess what Lady Wang was thinking, she also showed some sarcasm and disdain.

But when Jia Cong led his troops into battle, his aunt felt honored to be with him, and it was clear that the second wife did not get along with Cong-ge'er.

Seeing Cong-ge'er's glamorous and respectable life, she felt resentful and said something inappropriate in public, which made everyone look embarrassed.

Because Yingchun and the others present were juniors, and because of her niece Xiangyun, Li noticed something amiss and decided to help her aunt maintain appearances.

She smiled and said, "Second Madam, why hasn't Baoyu come over today?"

Left out in the cold by everyone else, and hearing the noble ladies from various families praising Jia Cong, Lady Wang was burning with resentment and her heart was filled with pent-up anger.

Hearing someone finally mention Baoyu was like a parched land receiving rain; my anxious heart was instantly irrigated, and I regained my energy and spirit.

But then she realized that Baoyu hadn't come. It was just that the old lady had sent someone to tell her to come, without mentioning Baoyu.

Although Lady Wang was stubborn and narrow-minded, she was not completely ignorant about matters concerning the inner quarters and had some idea of ​​Grandmother Jia's intentions.

Baoyu had spoken some truths before, and was instigated by the lowly maid Xia, who then seized on his weakness by the eldest son's family. Even the old lady became wary of him.

Furthermore, Baoyu was forced out of the West Mansion, and after he moved into the East Courtyard, his status as an outsider was officially confirmed.

Today, the hall is filled with female relatives from the maternal family and young ladies from their boudoirs. Even though the old lady dotes on Baoyu, she doesn't dare to call him over easily, lest it give rise to gossip.

Thinking of all this, Lady Wang felt a surge of resentment. Her son, Baoyu, had a perfectly good right to be the legitimate heir, but now he had been ruined like this.

Now the Jia family's glory and prestige have all fallen on that bastard child of a prostitute, and these people are still so shameless, constantly boasting about his military campaigns.

Do you think all the weapons have eyes and will avoid this kid? He'll get all the advantages in the world, dreaming big...

……

Although Lady Wang harbored malicious thoughts, the question posed by Marquis Zhongjing, Lady Li, was a gesture of respect, so she naturally composed herself to reply.

He smiled and said, "I was originally going to come over to pay my respects to the elders, but Baoyu will be studying at the Imperial Academy after the New Year."

His father was worried that his studies were unstable and that he wouldn't be able to study effectively in prison, so he'd been keeping him at home these past few days, urging him to study hard, which is why he couldn't come over easily.

Li casually replied, "That's really a good thing. Baoyu is getting married in three months. I've long heard that the girl from the Xia family is outstanding."

Now that Cong-ge'er has guided and mentored him, sending him to study at the Imperial Academy, he will surely be able to pass the exam if he studies diligently for one or two years.

"When that time comes, my aunt will have another talented grandson, which will truly be a cause for celebration."

Upon hearing this, Lady Wang felt no joy at being praised as a talented young man; instead, she felt disgusted and repulsed.

I thought the Lady of Zhongjing was a discerning person who could see the merits of my Baoyu, but it turns out she was just flattering Jia Cong indirectly. This is simply outrageous!
The other ladies present, upon hearing Li's words, each chimed in with a few words of agreement, praising Baoyu's promising future and the old lady's good fortune.

However, they all came from families of officials and nobles, and although they said one thing, they thought another, and their hearts were full of contempt and ridicule.

This Baoyu is a prince, yet he is not even worthy of a proper marriage and can only marry a lowly merchant girl.

This kind of low-class marriage is something to brag about, and people aren't afraid of laughing their heads off.

The Earl of Jiawei, a man of outstanding talent and excelling in both literature and martial arts, was unmatched among the sons of noble families in the capital. Yet, even he had moments of folly.

He gave Baoyu a special place in the Imperial Academy, but it was like throwing good money after bad—a losing proposition.

Baoyu had insulted the former emperor, offended the current emperor, and was even reprimanded by the Imperial Clan Court.

If he were to take the imperial examination, which examiner would dare to grant him a degree? Wouldn't that be an insult to the Emperor and His Majesty?

That's just plain stupid. They think they're living too comfortably. Which official wouldn't cherish their future and would never do something so foolish?

This Baoyu is long past his prime; even if he studies for a hundred years and wants to succeed in his studies, it's just a pipe dream...

The noble ladies in the hall all felt contempt, while some felt sorry for the Xia family girl. Although the Xia family was not an official family, they were still a very wealthy family in the capital.

The only daughter of the Xia family was a wealthy and well-bred young lady, yet she was married off to someone like Baoyu. She was truly unlucky and wasted her precious young life.

Although the Rongqing Hall was filled with laughter and seemed very harmonious and joyful, the atmosphere inside was extremely strange... Lady Wang listened to the noble ladies echoing her praise for Baoyu's good fortune. Although she smiled, she could only force a smile because she thought of Jia Cong's involvement. She was quite proud of herself.

To her utter surprise, while the noble ladies echoed their praise, they secretly despised her precious jade, considering it utterly worthless and utterly worthless...

……

Shenjing, Qingyufang, Xiafu.

Inside the courtyard stands an exquisite and magnificent embroidered building, two stories high, with carved beams and painted rafters, and delicately upturned eaves, quite unique.

A bright red brocade curtain with gold trim hangs at the entrance of the main room, leading inside to a crescent-shaped archway made of sandalwood, with a ginger-yellow curtain painted with auspicious clouds hanging above it.

The furniture and utensils throughout the house are luxurious and exquisite, and the antique shelves display a variety of antiques, all of which are precious objects with an understated elegance.

The various items in the boudoir were magnificent and enviable, but while they were rich, they lacked elegance and grace.

A new desk was added to the room, along with two pairs of bookshelves, half of which were now filled with newly purchased books.

Even the set of Yu Wenxuan's Pine Ink Double Seal Four Books, which was given to Baoyu, was also prominently displayed on the bookshelf.

Miss Xia was sitting at her desk, resting her chin on her hand, holding a book in her hand, quietly turning the pages, her expression focused, exuding a refined and elegant air.

She wore a light pink peony embroidered jacket with a front opening, a pink trimmed stand-up collar jacket, and an ivory embroidered horse-face skirt.

The dress was luxurious in color and tailored to fit the body, highlighting Xia's slender, graceful, and curvaceous figure, making her exceptionally beautiful and charming.

The blue cover of the book in her hand, with the two characters "Mencius" written in clerical script, exuded an ancient charm that seemed somewhat out of place with the luxurious and opulent boudoir.

But when outsiders see her reading, they won't think she's just scratching the surface; they'll believe she's truly interested and focused.

……

At this moment, the maid Baochan, accompanied by an old woman, quietly entered the room, followed by two rough maids carrying a red lacquered wooden box.

When Baochan saw her young lady reading again, a strange fear arose in her heart, and the young lady seemed to be becoming more and more obsessed.

Although she was literate before, she had no interest in reading. But after Jia Cong became a Hanlin Academician, the girl became infatuated with him and became obsessed with books.

Every time Baochan saw Miss Xia reading, he felt a chill run down his spine.

She felt that Jia Cong was really too wicked. He didn't say more than a few words to the girl, and unlike Bao Yu, he didn't flirt with her or play with her body at will.

How can you make a girl so neurotic, always acting like a different person? Are all scholars who can pass the imperial examinations this amazing?
Fortunately, Baoyu didn't like studying. Otherwise, if he had passed the imperial examination like Jia Cong, wouldn't he have been able to seduce women and never have a good life again?

However, if the girl is so obsessed with studying, she may face considerable trouble in the future.

If she marries Baoyu in the future, and he has those wicked Jia Cong in his heart, he will most likely force Baoyu to study, and Baoyu will really suffer to death.

Last time, when the young lady was preparing gifts for the Lunar New Year, she gave the second master a pile of books. I thought she was deliberately trying to humiliate him.

Now it seems that this is not the case. Could it be that the young lady had already decided to train Baoyu to read as soon as she entered the house, turning him into a Jia Cong, so that she could have her own fantasy?

If the girl didn't have this plan, why would she study so diligently...?

When Baochan saw Miss Xia reading, he seemed to be mesmerized for a moment, his mind wandering wildly. He couldn't help but shiver before he snapped back to reality.

He said, "Miss, as you instructed, I invited the owner's wife of Baofeng Fur Shop, and she brought all kinds of fur coats from the shop."

The old woman smiled obsequiously and said, "The Xia family of Guihua is a noble family in the capital. Our shop would never dare to neglect them. I have received instructions from the mansion."

"This time we've brought only the finest goods. Please feel free to choose whatever you like. Whatever superior fur you desire, our shop has it all."

The old woman waved her hand, and two maids put down the box, gently opened the lid, and found various fur garments piled up on top, exuding an air of extraordinariness and considerable value.

Miss Xia glanced at it casually and said, "I want the best material, something that can be made into a close-fitting jacket, so that those going to war can wear it close to their armor..."

……

Upon hearing Miss Xia's words, Baochan felt a chill run down her spine; the girl was going mad again...

Two days ago, news came from outside that Jia Cong had been appointed as a military officer by the emperor and was to lead an expedition north to fight against the Mongols.

What a fine young master from a prominent family, a scholar-official, yet instead of enjoying his life at home, he rushed to the north to fight the Mongols.

Baochan thought Jia Cong was also quite obsessed, just like her daughter.

Unlike Baoyu, who was obedient and honest, staying at home peacefully every day, he had plenty of free time to indulge in pleasure and enjoy the romantic escapades of the boudoir.

Baochan's heart still pounded when she recalled that day in the side room. It was a pity that someone had disturbed them that day, and before the Second Master could get into the mood, they could have enjoyed themselves again...

But when the girl heard the news, it was completely different from what she had imagined. She was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling, and she looked really flirtatious.

Not only did they not think Jia Cong was restless, they kept saying that he was both scholarly and martial, even more proud than the white-robed young general in the play.

It is also said that he is capable of both passing the imperial examinations and defeating barbarian tribes, and there is no one else like him in the world.

It is said that he was granted the title of Earl and Nobleman after he pacified the Jurchens in Liaodong last time. If he pacifies the Mongols now, he might be promoted to a higher rank.

He also said that a real man should be like Jia Cong, that's what's truly impressive, otherwise they're just effeminate good-for-nothings.

The girl was even reciting poetry in a whimsical way, something about taking over fifty states and how men don't carry hooks.

In short, it was all a jumbled mess of nonsense, and even I couldn't understand it.

The girl speaks too recklessly, without considering the consequences. Even if she takes a liking to Jia Cong, she will never be able to get involved with him and will have to obediently marry Baoyu.

Although the young lady was literate, Baochan felt that ever since she met Jia Cong, she had become increasingly dim-witted and not as clever as she was.

……

Two days ago, the Jia family sent Lantern Festival gifts, and according to custom, the Xia family should also return the favor.

The girl took advantage of this and prepared a gift for Jia Cong before his departure to war.

Such things should be done secretly; you can't just tell outsiders.

If word gets out that the young lady is keeping a younger brother-in-law before even entering the Jia family, wouldn't Master Bao lose face greatly?

However, although Baochan was dissatisfied, he didn't dare to utter a single word.

Now the girl is getting mad. If she angers this young lady, she might sell herself before she even marries into the Jia family.

If Baochan goes to great lengths, resorting to petty theft and deception, only to end up with nothing...

……

Miss Xia spoke boldly, demanding only the best, which pleased the fur shop owner.

She knew that the Xia family was extremely wealthy, and that their only daughter was a golden bodhisattva, so naturally they didn't care about gold and silver. Now that the matter was settled, she was going to make a fortune.

He smiled and said, "A lady of such high status should naturally use the best."

"It is my ignorance that I have come to know that your esteemed relative is a general. I wonder if he is your brother or your husband? I am truly sorry for my rudeness."

The old woman casually mentioned a "good man," which pleased Miss Xia. A smile involuntarily appeared on her face, making her as beautiful as a flower and dazzling to the eye.

Bao Chan, standing to the side, couldn't help but lower her head, feeling annoyed and secretly rolling her eyes.

Miss Xia's smile faded, and she said, "Enough with the gossip, show me the best one..."

……

The old woman pulled out a padded jacket from the bottom of the box. The fur was as black as ink, with a soft and shiny sheen and a fine, dense surface that caught the eye.

The old woman smiled and said, "Young lady, this padded jacket is the best in the shop, made of the finest black fox fur from outside Liaodong Pass."

People generally believe that white foxes are rare, but black foxes are even rarer; some hunters may never encounter one in their entire lives.

This black fox fur jacket was made from three black fox pelts, which I collected over decades in my shop. The fur is jet black, without a single stray hair.

You searched the entire capital city and couldn't find another one like it. It was taboo for ordinary people to use such a thing.

Only a family of the Guihua Xia clan deserves such fine items; giving this as a gift will certainly be a respectable gesture.”

Miss Xia came from a wealthy family and had seen many fine things in her life. She could naturally tell whether this black fox fur was worth the price.

This black fox fur-lined jacket is not only made of the finest fur, but also exquisitely crafted. The buttons are made of white jade, which embellishes the black fur surface, giving it an exceptionally refined and elegant appearance.

Miss Xia smiled slightly and said, "This item looks quite nice. What's the price?"

The old woman laughed and said, "Young lady, you really know your stuff. This black fox fur coat would fetch a thousand taels of silver in a shop."

The young lady is the eldest daughter of the Xia family, a person of such noble and respectable status, making her a highly sought-after customer in our small shop.

"If you like it, young lady, I can price it at eight hundred taels. You can take it."

Baochan, who was standing to the side, was also a little surprised when she heard this. Eight hundred taels for a fox fur jacket was not a small amount, even for the wealthy Xia family.

The girl was clearly Bao Erye's wife, but he didn't get a single hair out of it. Yet the girl bought her lover an 800-tael fur coat. Bao Erye was truly pitiful.

Besides, the girl had never even touched Jia Cong, so she wasn't even his lover. It was even more frustrating for Bao Erye to be a cuckold.

She retorted, "Old Zhao, I invited you here to do business, not to rob you."

You can really say that a fur coat costs eight hundred taels of silver? Do you think wearing it will make you an immortal?

You think you can fool our girls? I think you've gone too far…” (End of Chapter)