Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 875 Spring Sorrow Presses Down on the Embroidered Bed

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

The fiery red sunset illuminated the courtyard, casting long shadows on the vermilion pillars of the covered walkway in front of the main hall.

The glow of the sunset shone on the lintel of the main hall, casting golden light and shadow that, together with the shadows of the pillars, created a contrast of light and dark, giving rise to an unusual warmth and tranquility.

Douguan's voice is clean and clear, with the bright and crisp quality of a child's voice, revealing a playful and mischievous side.

Yinglian and Lingguan were amused and covered their mouths to chuckle, while Jia Cong was quite unkind and even deliberately laughed out loud.

Qingwen blushed and laughed loudly, scolding, "You little brat, all you do is argue with me every day."

I see you're itching for a beating, I'll peel it off for you all at once!

When Douguan saw Qingwen rushing towards her, she screamed loudly, but instead of sounding scared, she sounded excited and jubilant, and ran away in a flash.

Douguan had been learning opera and martial arts since she was a child. After entering the East Mansion, because of her young age, no one restrained her.

She climbs high and low every day without a moment's rest. When it comes to agility, Qingwen can't compare to her.

The two chased each other on the veranda. Douguan ran around the whole way, but Qingwen couldn't catch up with her.

Douguan ran around quickly, returned to the front of the main room, and immediately hid behind Jia Cong.

She cried out, "Third Master, Sister Qingwen wants to skin me alive and eat my flesh! Please stop her for me!"

Jia Cong spread his arms to stop her, and smiled at Qingwen, saying, "I'll teach her a lesson for you later, let her off this time."

Qingwen was running too fast and couldn't stop herself, so she bumped into his arms without thinking.

Jia Cong was suddenly embraced by her, the sensation was wonderful, soft and plump, fragrant and smooth, he really enjoyed it, and couldn't help but put his arms around Qingwen's waist.

Douguan peeked out from behind Jia Cong, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, seemingly dissatisfied.

She said, "Third Master, I was being chased and running away. Sister Qingwen wanted to beat me up. You should have hugged me instead. Why did you hug her instead?"

Jia Cong subconsciously let go of her hand, and Qingwen's pretty face turned pink.

He laughed and scolded, "Look at you, you little brat, you're not even as tall as the back of the armchair, yet you want Third Master to hug you? Don't you have any shame?"

Douguan said shamelessly and nonchalantly, "Want to be as tall as a chair back? That's easy, just eat for another six months and you'll be tall enough."

Qingwen wanted to banter with Douguan, but Jia Cong laughed and said, "The padded jacket you're holding is for me; it looks really nice."

Qingwen was swayed by Jia Cong's change of topic and said, "I've been so confused by this little girl that I've forgotten the important matter. I didn't make this jacket."

"Miss Lin specially made it and had Zijuan deliver it at noon. Although it looks good to me, Third Master, you should still try it on. It's also a token of Miss Lin's affection."

The group and Jia Cong went into the inner room. Douguan closed the door, and Lingguan added charcoal to the incense burner to make the fire burn brighter.

Yinglian went up to help Jia Cong run outside, and then took off her inner garment. Qingwen put a fur-lined jacket on Jia Cong, and it fit him well from head to toe.

As the group chattered away, a voice came from outside: "Sister Qingwen, is Third Master home?"

Jia Cong recognized the voice as that of Yingchun's maid, Xiuju. Qingwen said, "Third Master is at home. Please wait a moment, and we will come out."

After the group helped Jia Cong get dressed again, Douguan opened the door to the main room. Jia Cong smiled and asked, "Does Second Sister need something from me?"

Xiuju said, "Today, Miss Miaoyu moved back to the small courtyard on the south slope, and the Second Miss set up a vegetarian feast in the courtyard."

Firstly, it's to welcome Miss Miaoyu; the young ladies can also have a feast together, and she asked me to invite Third Master to join us.

……

The Earl's Mansion, Yingchun Courtyard.

Daiyu, Tanchun, Baochai, Xiangyun, Xichun and other sisters were all present, dressed in splendid clothes and adorned with precious hairpins, filling the hall with an elegant and luxurious atmosphere.

Zhi Shao also sat down on the left and was talking to Xing Xiuyan. They had spent several years together at Panxiang Temple in Suzhou and considered their friendship to be deeper than that of others.

Shi Xiangyun listened from the side, looking somewhat bored, her bright eyes darting back and forth.

He would sometimes look at Zhi Shao, sometimes at Xing Xiuyan, and often space out to himself.

Tan Chun was talking to Bao Chai, but the topic was somewhat rambling and they were both a little absent-minded. Only Xi Chun was focused on eating fruit, looking carefree.

Miaoyu was talking to Yingchun. She wore a Miaochang bun, a moon-white long jacket with plain sleeves, a long vest with blue satin trim, and a light ink-white silk skirt around her waist.

Her temples were adorned with dark hair, her cheeks were flushed and rosy, her bright eyes were clear and sparkling, and her gaze was calm and peaceful.

She was quite different from the elegant and wealthy Jia sisters.

…………

Yingchun smiled and said, "It's a good thing that you've moved back. Now we sisters have more company."

I have many chess friends. After you finish your daily chanting, remember to come visit often so the sisters can chat and have tea together.

Miaoyu was originally aloof, but because of her junior sister Zhishao, she became much more relaxed and open in her daily interactions with others than before.

She visited the Jia family mansion several times, and perhaps out of affection for the family, she treated the Jia sisters, including Yingchun, with polite and refined manners, unlike her previous aloof and eccentric personality.

Before the Lunar New Year, Yingchun often came to the small courtyard on the south slope. Because Miaoyu was quite skilled at chess, she was a worthy opponent for Yingchun, and the two of them enjoyed playing chess together.

Yingchun occasionally entered Miaoyu's meditation room and happened to see her brother's prayer tablet in front of the Guanyin statue.

Although Miaoyu said that she had received Jia Cong's kindness and had no way to repay it, she could only express her feelings by reciting scriptures and praying for blessings in her spare time.

But Yingchun liked it very much. Even though Miaoyu was aloof, Yingchun felt close to her and naturally wanted her to come to the mansion often.

…………

Miaoyu said, "I am fortunate to have met you, Junior Sister. Yuzhang has been very considerate in taking my master and me into his residence. I have been quite a bother."

Yingchun smiled and said, "Miss Miaoyu, don't talk nonsense. Now that war is about to break out and the area outside the city is already in chaos, it's much more peaceful for you to move here."

However, Congdi has not had a peaceful year at home, and now he is going to war again. This time, it is unknown when he will return.

"Miss Miaoyu has a profound lineage and is knowledgeable about auspicious and inauspicious omens, as well as yin and yang. Brother Cong, does this expedition seem to be going smoothly?"

Yingchun was too concerned about her brother and forgot that even if divination were to be performed, Jia Cong himself should be present to cast the hexagram and examine his face before any predictions could be made.

Miaoyu, however, did not mind at all. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, young lady. Master has examined Yuzhang's fate."

It is said that he is a person of great fortune, whose life will have ups and downs, but will also have a turn for the better.

A few days ago, my master was invited by Zhang Tianshi to go to Xuantian Palace on Luocang Mountain to exchange magical techniques.

When Master returned, he mentioned that Zhang Tianshi was also an old friend of Yu Zhang. When he first met Yu Zhang, he was only ten years old.

Zhang Tianshi then concluded that Yu Zhang was destined for greatness.

In recent years, Yu Zhang has been successful in everything he has done, and every step he takes has been blessed with good fortune. It is clear that Zhang Tianshi and my master were right in their calculations.

Therefore, his expedition will surely be smooth sailing.

"It's possible that with Yu Zhang's current success, his entire family's achievements will reach new heights."

Yingchun always found it agreeable when others spoke well of her brother, and she would smile and say, "I don't expect him to achieve anything great, I just hope he can return safely as soon as possible."

…………

Seeing that Yingchun was peaceful and quiet, and that the siblings had a very close relationship, Miaoyu felt a little uneasy. She had only said nice things and had not said anything that was taboo.

That day, Master and Celestial Master Zhang were discussing magic. Celestial Master Zhang mentioned the jade seal, though he only said a few words.

But the master was a highly skilled person; he could understand the subtle meaning behind a song and know the coming of autumn from a single leaf.

Zhang Tianshi once said that when he first met Yu Zhang, he observed that Yu Zhang's appearance and aura were different from ordinary people. His fortunes had suddenly turned from bad to good, and his life force was unclear.

With divine charm and exceptional bone structure, he is of incomparably noble character. He is destined for both life and death, and fortune and misfortune are intertwined. He is destined for a family of generals and ministers, with generations of blessings. He is unparalleled and possesses a rare and extraordinary destiny.

At that time, the master said that Zhang Tianshi's method of physiognomy and her innate numerology calculations actually coincided.

The master once predicted that when Yu Zhang was ten years old, he was destined to face a life-or-death calamity. According to common sense, he would not have survived, but he miraculously survived.

When Zhang Tianshi first met Yu Zhang, Yu Zhang happened to be ten years old. Zhang Tianshi predicted that Yu Zhang's fate was strange, that great misfortune would suddenly turn into great fortune, and that his life force was obscure and unclear.

This perfectly matches what his master predicted: that he would face a death calamity at the age of ten, but ultimately survived.

…………

Yu Zhang also met Zhang Tianshi at the age of ten, after which his fortunes soared, his luck turned around, and he became dazzling.

The master calculated that Yu Zhang's fate was unpredictable, and he was prone to winning one day and losing the next, with his fortune collapsing and misfortune ensnaring him.

Zhang Tianshi, using physiognomy and the principles of Qi, deduced that Yu Zhang was no ordinary person, possessing a rare destiny that defied convention.

The master said that the two methods of calculation were consistent, and that both approaches led to the same conclusion.

Those whose destiny is broken are destined for an ordinary life, their lives filled with ups and downs, their fortunes and misfortunes unpredictable. They are either great sages or great villains.

Thinking of these things, Miaoyu was shaken and could not calm down.

The image of Jia Cong appeared in my mind: handsome, gentle, affectionate, and loyal—he didn't seem like this kind of person at all.

...Even such a bizarre fate was nothing to Miaoyu; what extraordinary person in this world has an ordinary destiny?

For her, there was another matter that was even more worrying.

Miaoyu, lost in thought, couldn't help but glance at Yingchun. She saw that Yingchun's skin was as white as jade, her beauty and elegance were graceful and noble, and she was truly a first-rate person.

Although this young lady is outstanding, she and Yu Zhang are born of the same father, so their features are not exactly similar.

There's also Baoyu, Yuzhang's cousin, who is said to have been born with a jade in his mouth, so he should have been more outstanding as well.

But when I saw Zunrong's demeanor that day, it was a mess and an eyesore.

He and Yu Zhangtang were blood relatives, very close in kinship, yet they bore no resemblance whatsoever.

It's like comparing heaven and earth; even dirt and stone pale in comparison to fine jade.

The master once divined Yu Zhang's fate and concluded that his and Jia She's birth charts clashed, making them incompatible even in life and death, and that they were not destined to be father and son. It seems that this is indeed true.

Thinking of this, Miaoyu couldn't help but look around the hall at the beautiful and outstanding young ladies of the Jia family, her thoughts a mix of emotions.

Just as she was in a state of mental confusion, she heard footsteps outside the hall. Jia Cong walked into the hall with a warm smile, and the gloom in Miaoyu's heart immediately dissipated.

…………

When Jia Cong entered the hall, he greeted Miaoyu, who was a guest from outside, and then thanked Daiyu for the needlework and padded jacket.

Miaoyu pulled something out of her sleeve—a small, palm-sized, blue-covered, folded booklet, exquisitely crafted.

He said, “This is an excerpt from the Shurangama Mantra, consisting of eight wonderful phrases and mantras. I recited it forty-nine times and then washed and burned incense before the Buddha’s presence.”

This small gift cannot express my deepest respect; please carry it with you on your journey, hoping it will have the power of incantation, protecting you from misfortune and bringing good fortune.

Jia Cong accepted it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Miss Miaoyu."

He unfolded the folded booklet and saw that the handwriting was beautiful and neat, filled with scriptures written in plum blossom-shaped regular script. The writing was meticulous and careful, showing great care.

Yingchun, concerned about the day he would depart for the campaign, inquired briefly about official business at the yamen. Jia Cong told her that he would be setting off the day after tomorrow, and the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat tense.

After a while, Yingchun smiled and told the maid to start the feast. When the sisters did not mention the expedition, they only talked about everyday matters.

Even the usually taciturn Miaoyu became quite talkative.

The gathering lasted for an hour before everyone dispersed. Zhi Shao accompanied Miao Yu to spend the night in the small courtyard on the south slope, while Jia Cong escorted Dai Yu and Tan Chun back to their courtyard.

Although he was about to go to war, Yingchun and the other sisters felt lonely and reluctant to part with him.

But over the years he has traveled far away many times, and his sisters have mostly gotten used to it, just waiting for his return.

.........

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

When he entered the room, the lights were still on in the side rooms, as he had just finished a banquet with his sisters, which took quite a while.

It's past 9 PM now. According to the usual routine, everyone except the maid on night duty would turn off the lights and go to bed, but tonight everyone is late.

He had just pushed open the door and entered the main house when he saw slender figures inside, with people coming and going.

Lingguan and Yinglian were making the bed and chatting, while Qingwen took out Jia Cong's pajamas and neatly hung them on the sandalwood ruyi-shaped clothes rack.

The main house has been thoroughly cleaned and tidied up, looking exceptionally clean and spotless, and is very pleasing to the eye.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "What's wrong with you all today? Why aren't you all asleep so late? A bunch of you are tidying up in the room. Isn't Wu'er on night duty tonight?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "Wu'er went to the backyard to take a bath, and we were all free, so we came over to help Third Master tidy up."

The day after tomorrow, Third Master will be setting off on a long journey, and we'll all be free. Let's be diligent these next two days so that Third Master remembers our good deeds.

"To avoid being away for too long, Third Master might get so engrossed in his travels that he forgets all about us."

Jia Cong laughed and scolded, "You're the only one in the whole house who likes to grind your teeth and has a head full of strange and bizarre ideas. Putting aside others, I will never forget how naughty you are."

Qingwen chuckled and ran up to Jia Cong, saying with a smile, "It seems that my ability to grind my teeth is actually a good thing. I should grind them more often in the future."

Third Master really doesn't know the difference between hot and cold. He's going on a long trip the day after tomorrow, and he went to Second Miss's place today. He hasn't returned for a long time.

We were just bored, so we waited for you to come back before going to sleep.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Now that we're back and you've all packed up, hurry up and go back to sleep, or you'll have dark circles under your eyes tomorrow morning."

As he spoke, he went to change into his pajamas. Qingwen and Yinglian went up to help him. After Jia Cong finished changing, he pushed them to go to sleep.

Once the room quieted down, Jia Cong suddenly remembered something and laughed, "Those three silly girls, after being busy for so long, forgot to prepare hot water."

…………

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and Jia Cong saw Ping'er carrying a copper basin. She entered the room with a smile and placed the copper basin on the basin stand.

He laughed and said, "I saw them coming and going, but I didn't see anyone carrying a large copper basin, so I knew they had all forgotten."

Jia Cong saw that Ping'er was wearing a lake-blue satin jacket with a floral pattern, a snow-white cotton undershirt with a cross-collar, and a cream-white long skirt with embroidered branches.

She wore a pair of bright gold shrimp-whisker bracelets on her wrists, which shimmered brilliantly in the candlelight, making her slender wrists appear even more delicate and white as jade, exuding a noble and elegant charm that was dazzling to the eye.

He laughed and said, "Why do you also like to make a fuss like them? No matter how late it is, you never go to rest. You and Wu'er are in charge of things in the East Mansion, which takes more effort than them."

Ping'er heated a face towel in hot water, wrung it out, and handed it to Jia Cong to wash his face. She then went to the dressing table, where there was a camphor wood box.

The box contained Jia Cong's travel clothes and daily utensils, which would be transported away with the military vehicles tomorrow.

He said, "When Wu'er and I returned to the manor at sunset, we heard that Third Master had set a date for the expedition and that we would be leaving early the day after tomorrow."

The girls were all uneasy, and I couldn't sit still when I got back. I'll have to take care of things these next few days. Third Master is away on a long campaign, so I haven't been able to help out."

As Ping'er spoke, she opened the box and looked through the clothes and items inside to see if anything was missing or needed to be replaced.

Jia Cong laughed and said, "This box has been searched by so many people. Second Sister, Lin Sister, Third Sister, and Zhi Shao have all looked at it. How could it be missing anything?"

Ping'er sighed and said, "Back when Third Master lived in Qingzhizhai, he had the most carefree days, with peace and quiet every day."

Back then, let alone passing the imperial examination, even passing the county-level examination or the provincial-level examination would have been enough for Third Master to establish himself as the head of the household.

Although the old lady dotes on Baoyu, everyone knows he's incompetent. Even if Third Master can't be the head of the family, he's still capable and illustrious.

Third Master's life must not be as hectic as it is now. The opera sings of regret for urging her husband to seek fame and fortune; I didn't quite understand that before, but now I do.

As Ping'er spoke, she closed the box. Jia Cong, moved by her words, couldn't help but embrace her slender waist.

He laughed and said, "You can't say that. If I were just a minor scholar, unable to become an earl or the head of a family, my second sister-in-law wouldn't give you to me."

So things are better now than before, and even if I have to work a little harder, it's only right; otherwise, how could I have such a good person like you?

Ping'er blushed with amusement at his words and laughed, "Third Master, you really know how to coax people. Is this all from books?"

The night was deep outside the window, and a faint fragrance filled the room. Jia Cong saw Ping'er's fair neck and couldn't help but lean in and kiss her.

Ping'er couldn't stand the tickling and couldn't help but laugh and shrink her body. Caught off guard, Jia Cong reached out and slipped his hand into her clothes.

Ping'er said in a trembling voice, "Third Master, you mustn't be silly. What if Fifth Master sees this? I'll lose all face. I'll go back and rest first, and serve you again next time..."

She could only speak halfway before she was unable to speak again. Her mind was broken, her body went limp, and her hands involuntarily wrapped around Jia Cong's waist.

In an instant, the soft fragrance and warm jade, the tender lips and tongue, made me feel as if I were floating on clouds, unaware of the depths of my being.

…………

After an unknown amount of time, the door creaked open and was gently pushed open. The two people inside were cuddling and didn't notice anything for a moment.

After her bath, Wu'er felt completely refreshed and invigorated. Her beautiful hair, loosely tied back with a hair tie, was glossy and damp, not yet completely dry.

She pushed open the door and entered the room, only to see Jia Cong embracing Ping'er and nibbling on the rouge off her lips.

Wu'er's pretty face instantly turned bright red, and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, I should gouge out my eyes! I'm so unlucky to have come in here and spied on your good time."

Ping'er immediately jumped away from Jia Cong's arms as if she were on fire.

Wu'er's face was still flushed, and she said with a half-smile, "Sister Ping'er, last time you came out to pour water at night, you got hold of something against me."

This is great! I've got something on you, and it's much bigger than mine. I can ramble on about it for the rest of my life, hehe.

Ping'er almost cried when she heard this, and complained to Jia Cong, "Third Master, it's all your fault for being so silly. You've given me a lot of gossip, and I'm too ashamed to face anyone now."

Seeing Ping'er's disheveled state, Wu'er's heart softened, and she said, "It's all Third Master's fault. My hair isn't dry, so I'm going back to my room to air it out. I won't have the energy to keep watch tonight."

As she turned to leave the room, Jia Cong grabbed her tightly.

Wu'er's face was flushed as she said, "Third Master, I'll go back to rest tonight. I'll keep watch for you when you return from your campaign."

Jia Cong looked strange and said, "This is all my fault. If anyone should be criticized, it should be me."

Upon hearing Wu'er's words, Ping'er turned to run away immediately, but Jia Cong grabbed her wrist.

(End of this chapter)