Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The maids, dressed in bright red and green, moved gracefully like willows among flowers, serving tea, refilling cups, and arranging cakes and fruits.

When Lady Li, the Marquis of Zhongjing, mentioned Jia Cong, she was unaware of the details because it involved important military and national affairs.

If she hadn't said anything, it would have been fine, but saying it only added to her doubts. Although Grandmother Jia had her doubts, she just listened and let it go, and soon forgot about it.

Yingchun and her sisters were filled with worry. Jia Cong had only been away on campaign for two days, yet he suddenly sent a message to the capital overnight. Could it be that he had encountered some trouble?

Daiyu thought about how she had tossed and turned all night and hadn't slept well. Could it be that her third brother was in trouble and she had fulfilled this omen?

Shi Xiangyun was also very worried. Although her third brother was a bit slow and didn't understand her thoughts at all, she hoped he wouldn't encounter any risks.

When I go home with my aunt later, I'll ask my second uncle for details. Even if it's a matter of national importance, I can always coax him into telling me by being cute and charming.

Yingchun was also somewhat restless. She and Xiangyun had the same idea: to have her go home today and have a good talk with the Second Master Shi...

Although Tan Chun was also somewhat worried, she thought that her third brother was the eldest, and that even if he encountered any difficulties, he would surely be able to overcome them.

Besides, he would also send a message to Uncle Shi, so it didn't seem too urgent, and there was no need to worry too much.

Baochai was also uneasy after hearing this, but since Yingchun and Tanchun hadn't asked, it was even less appropriate for her, a girl from a maternal family, to inquire further.

Only Xichun was still too young to understand; she would take the cakes and fruits from the plate and stuff them into her little mouth in an orderly fashion, quite enjoying herself.

……

Just as the sisters were having different thoughts, Lin Zhixiao's wife came to deliver a message: "Madam Xia and her daughter have arrived and have entered the second gate with Second Madam and Master Bao."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu frowned slightly and tugged at Yingchun's sleeve.

Yingchun was also a perceptive person; she knew that Baoyu was getting along well with the other sisters.

He has coveted Lin Daiyu since childhood, and even now that they are engaged, he still can't get rid of his filthy thoughts. When he sees Lin Daiyu, he tries to be assertive and says ambiguous things.

Yingchun was naturally very uncomfortable, because she knew that her brother really favored Lin Daiyu and that they would most likely get together in the future.

As the older sister, she naturally protected her own, and usually paid great attention to Daiyu. Seeing Daiyu's actions, she knew exactly what Daiyu was thinking, and it was exactly what Daiyu wanted.

She stood up and said, "Grandma, today is the fifteenth of the first month. We will also have guests from the East Mansion. Moreover, Brother Cong is away on a military expedition, so I'm afraid most of the guests will be women."

We sisters are all sitting here. It would be too lonely with guests coming. Let my third sister and Yun stay and keep the old lady and the ladies company.

I'll take Lin Daiyu with me to handle things. She's more capable of talking to the housekeepers and ladies than I am, so she won't make Congdi look bad or show any disrespect."

……

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "You have such a big mansion. Today is a big festival. It won't do if no one is in charge. Just go and take care of things. Come back when you have some free time."

Xichun, who was feeling a bit bored, didn't want to listen to the elders' gossip. When she heard Yingchun say she was leaving, she jumped off the chair and insisted on going back with her.

Yingchun took Xichun's hand, and Daiyu waited behind them as they left the hall. Just as they reached the entrance, the curtain was lifted.

Madam Wang and Baoyu entered, followed by Madam Xia and Miss Xia, along with their personal maids—a whole throng of people.

Yingchun and Daiyu bowed to Madam Wang, and only after they entered the hall did they lift the curtain and leave.

Upon seeing Daiyu, Baoyu's gaze lingered on her, and he said with a pained expression, "Sister Lin, I just arrived, why are you leaving already?"

Daiyu pretended not to hear, quickened her pace, took Xichun's other hand, and then hurried away.

When Miss Xia saw that Baoyu looked dazed and that the man surnamed Lin stared blankly at her, as if half of his soul had left his body and he looked like a lowly person, she didn’t even feel ashamed!
When Miss Lin saw Baoyu, she acted as if she had seen a ghost, almost lifting her skirt and running away. It's clear that she had a reason for not liking Baoyu.

Any girl who isn't blind would like a sissy; only someone like Cong-ge'er is appealing.

I heard he just led troops to fight the Mongol Tartars in the north. He is both a scholar who passed the imperial examination with flying colors and a warrior who can lead an army with a sword. He is a true man who stands tall and upright.

Baoyu, that effeminate coward, that lecherous scoundrel, is not even as good as the mud on Cong-ge'er's shoe sole!

……

When Baoyu saw that Daiyu had left in a hurry as soon as he entered the hall, ignoring him when he spoke and walking away without looking back, he felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart.

He suddenly realized that it must be because he brought Miss Xia here today, and Lin Daiyu felt sad when she saw her, which is why she hurriedly tried to hide away.

I truly deserve to die; I failed to understand Lin Daiyu's deep affection. But what could I do? It was an arranged marriage by my parents, and I was bound by filial piety...

Both Miss Xia and Lin Daiyu are exceptionally beautiful young ladies, which puts people in a dilemma. Why does fate always have to torment them? It truly leaves them helpless.

However, compared to Xia Gui, Lin Daiyu was still better off, after all, they grew up in the same mansion, and their sisterly bond was extraordinary.

Moreover, in that year, Lin Daiyu grew even more beautiful. She grew much taller, and her figure was graceful and ethereal, truly no less than that of Xia Daiyu.

Baoyu recalled Daiyu's graceful and captivating figure as she left the hall, and a burning desire welled up in his heart. Even though Miss Xia was beside him, he couldn't help but ask her.

She said, "Grandma, why did Second Sister and Lin Sister leave so soon after we arrived?"

Grandmother Jia casually said with a smile, "Today is the fifteenth of the first month. Cong-ge has many friends and colleagues in official circles, so naturally many guests will come to visit."

It just so happens that Cong-ge'er is leading his troops on a campaign. Male guests may not come to the door, but the female relatives of the family will visit each other frequently. It's just the social etiquette of a wealthy family.

"Second Sister is going back to the manor to take charge of affairs, so as not to neglect the guests. Many of those coming are wives and daughters of civil officials. You, Sister Lin, are knowledgeable and reasonable; it would be best if you could help with entertaining them."

Although Grandmother Jia's words seemed casual, they were actually spoken quite carefully, with a hint of boasting.

Even though she wasn't very close to Jia Cong, her grandson Jia Cong was the face of the Jia family, a fact that Grandmother Jia was very clear about.

In front of these relatives of the Xia family, it was natural to bring up topics to save face and let this future granddaughter-in-law know how noble the Jia family was and how glorious the Jia family women were.

……

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Baoyu felt utterly disgusted, a sour feeling rising from the top of his head, and an indescribable twisting and discomfort in his heart.

He thought that Lin Daiyu would feel uncomfortable having Miss Xia with him, and that his sister was always prone to being temperamental. Baoyu was even secretly pleased with himself.

Unexpectedly, she had misunderstood. Lin Daiyu left in such a hurry that she was busy putting on a good show for Jia Cong's guests, completely disregarding propriety.

Baoyu felt a pang of sorrow and couldn't help but say, "Brother Cong has guests at his residence, so it's only proper for Second Sister to go and entertain them."

"Lin Daiyu is, after all, a relative from outside the family; how can we trouble her to entertain guests? She should stay here and keep the old lady company."

……

Upon hearing this, Lady Li, the Marquis of Zhongjing, couldn't help but glance at Baoyu, feeling a bit of scorn in her heart.

The aunt doted on Baoyu her whole life, but all that pampering was wasted; he's become so spoiled that he has no sense of propriety.

Even a fool could hear the smugness in my aunt's words just now; it's only natural for an old person to show off the prestige of their children and grandchildren.

But Baoyu is here to contradict us, talking about all this talk of relatives, like how older people like us all understand human relationships.

Besides Baoyu, the aunt dotes on this granddaughter the most. Even relatives shouldn't say things like that to her face—is Baoyu just pretending to be clever, or is he truly stupid…?

Tan Chun and Bao Chai both heard Bao Yu's strange remarks, but they knew it was useless to argue, so they pretended not to hear them and just went about their own business.

Only Shi Xiangyun, after that incident, would get angry whenever she saw Baoyu, and would instinctively want to jump up and confront him, as if possessed by a ghost.

Seeing that Baoyu had fallen into his old habit again, despite not being particularly clever, he thought he was exceptionally insightful and would find fault with others at the drop of a hat.

He must have seen his third brother leave, and he had no scruples at all, daring to find fault with the East Mansion. Shi Xiangyun was immediately very angry.

……

However, with all the elders in the family present, she couldn't say anything harsh or hurtful. But she was quick-witted and had a cheerful and bold personality, so this didn't faze her.

He laughed and said, "Second brother, that's not right. Saying things like 'intimate relatives' or 'inner relatives' is too formal. I'm not surnamed Jia either, so I'm also an 'intimate relative'."

But my sisters and I have been with our third brother since we were little, and we are like sisters. We have never distinguished between insiders and outsiders.

Sister Lin and Third Brother were childhood sweethearts. Sister Lin was well-read and erudite. As the daughter of Lin Tanhua, she and Third Brother complemented each other perfectly.

With Third Brother away on campaign, Sister Lin accompanied Second Sister to help Third Brother receive female guests, maintaining a dignified appearance both inside and out – the most appropriate arrangement.

Moreover, helping Third Brother entertain guests is not a first for Sister Lin; we sisters are used to it, but Second Brother makes a big fuss about it.

If it weren't for my aunt being here today, and having to keep the old lady company and talk to my aunt, I would have gone to the East Mansion to entertain the guests. The ladies of the official families who came were all exceptionally outstanding.

"You can tell from Sister Lin's hurried departure that the people who have arrived are extraordinary; they are all exceptionally talented and beautiful young ladies, each one quite striking."

When Baochai heard Xiangyun's last sentence, which was almost a mocking and playful imitation of Baoyu's tone, she almost burst out laughing.

He couldn't help but wonder why Sister Yun had been acting so strangely lately. Whenever Baoyu made a mistake in his speech, Sister Yun would seize on it and relentlessly criticize him.

What exactly did Baoyu do to offend her that made her so relentless...?

……

When Marquis Zhongjing, Lady Li, heard Xiangyun's words, she couldn't help but smile bitterly. This wild girl had no sense of strategy and didn't know how to speak properly.

If you're going to criticize someone, fine, but you've made Lin and Cong seem like such a perfect match. What's the point of you then? Aren't you afraid of shooting yourself in the foot?

Baoyu found Xiangyun's voice crisp and melodious, like the chirping of a nightingale, and her comment that Jia Cong and Daiyu were childhood sweethearts and complemented each other perfectly was really going too far. Baoyu's round face turned red with anger, and he wanted to retort, but he knew it was inappropriate, as the Xia family mother and daughter were still present, and it would be wrong for him to argue with Xiangyun.

She couldn't possibly let it show, yet she was actually vying for Xia's affections with Jia Cong. This must have broken Xia's heart; how could someone who cherishes and protects women bear to do such a thing...?

Moreover, unlike Yingchun and Baochai, Xiangyun is not reserved in her actions. She is always straightforward, sharp-tongued, and unforgiving when she is right, making her difficult to provoke.

Xiangyun saw that Baoyu's face was flushed, his anger was rising, and his mouth was moving as if he was hesitant to speak.

Xiangyun was also a clever and shrewd person. She glanced at the beautiful and charming Miss Xia and knew exactly what was going on. She was even more pleased with herself and wanted to press her advantage and continue to tease her.

Grandmother Jia noticed Baoyu's expression and quickly changed the subject, laughing, "You two are becoming more and more like children as you grow up. Why do you always bicker when you meet? Aren't you afraid the guests will laugh at you?"

Mrs. Xia smiled and said, "The brothers and sisters in the family talk and joke around, which makes them seem closer. The granddaughters that the old lady raised are all clever and outstanding, which is truly enviable."

……

Xia, observing coldly from the side, saw that Baoyu was infatuated with Daiyu. Although she was somewhat angry, she scolded Baoyu for being despicable, shameless, and shameless.

Actually, she wasn't too angry. She let Baoyu love pigs and dogs as he pleased, because she looked down on him and considered him a piece of trash.

Even if Baoyu dares to flirt with others, it would be best if he caused trouble in the inner quarters; Miss Xia would be happy to see it happen.

Since Baoyu dared to act so recklessly, she naturally wouldn't hold back either, and felt perfectly justified in seducing Jia Cong. So, she can't be blamed anymore...

When Xia heard Xiangyun say that Daiyu had returned to the East Mansion to help Jia Cong entertain guests, she felt a pang of jealousy and was extremely envious.

The only ones who could help Cong-ge'er receive guests, besides his own sister who was the rightful mistress, were the head of the household. That girl surnamed Lin was quite cunning; perhaps she wanted to turn a pretense into reality.

This eldest daughter of the Shi family is no pushover either. Baoyu only made a few remarks, and she jumped out with a sarcastic remark, clearly protecting Cong-ge'er.

Cong-ge'er was born too proud, and his literary and martial talents were too outstanding. These little devils from other families all had their eyes on him, this piece of Tang Monk's flesh, and they all wanted to rack their brains to seduce him.

The inner courtyard of the Jia family was quite chaotic; the temple was small but the evil spirits were strong, and the pond was shallow but there were many turtles.

These people had been hanging out with him since childhood; they were a complete mess and utterly disrespectful. It was a pity he didn't have that kind of luck...

……

However, both the girl surnamed Lin and the daughter of the Shi family are too ambitious and their plans are not going to be successful. They are both living in their mothers' pipe dreams.

Miss Xia had inquired about all the girls around Jia Cong who were not related to him, so she naturally knew their backgrounds very well.

Although this Lin was the daughter of a third-ranked scholar and the old lady's own granddaughter, she was also short-lived, losing her mother at the age of six.

The Shi family girl was even more frightening; both her parents died at birth, making her seem like a jinx. At least she grew up to thirteen before her father finally passed away from illness.

Cong-ge'er is a Hanlin scholar and was personally granted the title of Earl by the Emperor. Such a prestigious official rank would not allow him to marry an orphan as his principal wife. It is not reasonable for a prominent family to do so.

Moreover, Cong-ge'er had been betrothed by the palace, but fortunately his father was too good at timing. Before the imperial decree of marriage was finished being read, he suddenly died, and the news spread throughout the city.

This is more bizarre than any storyteller could tell, but it's also a great thing, as it effectively crippled that Zhen guy from Jinling.

Later, the Zhen family got involved in manufacturing firearms illegally, and the entire family was punished and their property confiscated. Who told the Zhen family to try to get involved with Cong-ge'er? They were not destined for such a fate and deserved to squander their wealth.

Since the palace has granted the favor of bestowing a marriage upon him, and the emperor's decree is law, there is no turning back once the arrow is released. When Congge marries his principal wife, it will surely be by imperial decree.

If it refers to two girls who lost their parents, wouldn't the emperor be making a fool of himself? I've heard that the emperor values ​​Cong-ge'er highly and would never demean his marriage.

These two girls, surnamed Lin and Shi, are both indulging in pipe dreams, destined to end up with nothing.

If they can't get close to Cong-ge, neither of them should either. They're all equally bad, and neither of them is more smug than the other!

…………

Mrs. Xia has always been exceptionally shrewd; she would never be like her daughter, with her passionate and irrational nature, spending her whole life consumed by unfounded jealousy.

She would marry her daughter into the Jia family not only so that her daughter could have a respectable marriage and a secure future, but also to provide a powerful backer for the Xia family.

With her daughter's marriage arranged as she wished, and Baoyu now her son-in-law, she would naturally treat him well and had no other expectations of him.

To gain power within the Jia family, one must become the Earl of Weiyuan. Hearing Grandmother Jia boast about her grandson, she naturally wanted to please her.

He laughed and said, "It's widely rumored that the Earl of Weiyuan is a direct descendant of the Duke of Rongguo's generals, a born young general, unparalleled in the Great Zhou Dynasty."

To be granted a title for military merit at the age of fourteen is something even a play couldn't imagine. His presence on this campaign will surely bring him further glory; the old lady is truly blessed.

Madam Wang felt uncomfortable listening to this, but she knew that Mrs. Xia was a shrewd person, even though she was very knowledgeable about human relationships.

They must think that the young man is the head of the family, and the West Mansion is his residence. Naturally, they can decide what kind of show to put on when they enter that temple. It's understandable that the relatives don't understand the inner workings of the Jia family.

As an elder in the family, she could not flatter that young man. It would not do her any harm to have her in-laws say some good things, so Madam Wang tolerated it.

But then Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "At his age, he has already achieved so much. I don't expect him to make any great contributions. I just want him to be safe and sound."

My grandson is also destined to be a busybody. Since he was ten years old, he's rarely home, always running around inside and outside the house, which is how he built this family business..."

……

When Mrs. Xia saw that she had catered to Grandmother Jia's tastes and that Grandmother Jia was indeed excited and showing off her grandson, she quickly added a few more flattering words.

Miss Xia, who had been silent, seemed to have become interested and said with a smile, "Never before has a relative of the Xia family been a general who leads troops."

I'm quite curious; I wonder how many soldiers the Earl of Weiyuan has brought this time, and what his military rank is?

Having witnessed Jia Cong's glory and honor, Miss Xia felt that leading troops into battle was not as exciting and glamorous as passing the imperial examination, which was probably just because she was not experienced enough.

Whenever Jia Cong made a name for himself or achieved something remarkable, Miss Xia couldn't help but admire him and would flock to him everywhere. Naturally, she followed her mother's lead and inquired about him.

Upon hearing this, Baoyu frowned. Miss Xia was also an outstanding woman, so how could she have developed such a taste and enjoy listening to such talk about fame and fortune?

After the two of them get married, I will definitely speak to her properly and help her cleanse herself of her impurities, so that she will never be harmed by Jia Cong again...

……

In fact, Grandmother Jia didn't really care how many soldiers Jia Cong brought this time or what military rank he was given, so she naturally couldn't answer immediately.

Of everyone in the hall, only Tan Chun and Xiang Yun knew the truth, but Tan Chun had been repeatedly reminded by Jia Cong to be wary of Miss Xia, and he was quite cautious about her in his words.

Moreover, the way Miss Xia looked at her third brother was unusually hot and passionate, which was already far beyond what was considered shameful.

Even though Miss Xia was going to be the eldest sister-in-law, Tan Chun already felt a distance from her and naturally did not want to respond to her.

Shi Xiangyun, however, was unaware of the details. She had never met Miss Xia and only knew that she was Baoyu's wife, so she had no particular feelings towards her.

Hearing that she was interested in Jia Cong and that her words subtly revealed admiration, Xiangyun felt happy and thought that she was better than Baoyu.

He laughed and said, "These military ranks are all very tongue-twisting, but I asked my third brother about them myself, so I remember them very clearly."

My third brother was originally a fourth-rank Xuanwu General, and this time he was appointed as the Assistant Commander of the Shenji Battalion, leading six thousand Shenji Battalion soldiers and subject to the command of the Grand Commander.

Miss Xia may not know about the Shenji Battalion, which is the most powerful army in the Five Armies. They don't use swords and spears, but modern firearms and cannons.

These were all made by my third brother. They're more than ten times more powerful than swords and spears. Although I haven't seen them, they're all genuine divine weapons.

This time, Miss Xia forgot about being jealous and was completely captivated by Shi Xiangyun's words. She was interested in everything Jia Cong was proud of.

He asked, "Since these things are so powerful, capable of taking on ten enemies at once, won't Marquis Weiyuan be rewarded with another title and honors this time he goes on this campaign...?"

Xiangyun laughed and said, "I can't say for sure, but Third Brother is a man of great ability, and it seems that making meritorious contributions is quite common for him."

These two people, who were originally completely unrelated, actually chatted quite congenially. Tan Chun was both amused and exasperated, thinking that Xiang Yun was really carefree.

Seeing that Miss Xia was becoming increasingly obsessed, and even seemed to enjoy talking about Jia Cong's messy affairs, Baoyu felt utterly disgusted...

……

Rongguo Mansion, back street, Lixiang Courtyard's street-facing entrance.

The back street was inhabited by relatives of the Jia family, as well as maids and wives from the inner courtyard of the West Mansion. They would occasionally come and go from the back street to buy cosmetics and other cosmetics for the female members of the family.

The backstreet was usually very quiet, frequented only by members of the Jia clan.

These past few days, unfamiliar faces have been appearing frequently. Today, after daybreak, a peddler set up a stall on the street, and a porter solicited business.

As the sun rose slightly, a carriage drove up from the street corner, followed by seven or eight yamen runners, and a fast horse came running from behind.

The carriage stopped at the street corner. Yang Hongbin lifted the curtain and asked, "Has Chen Ruichang's matter been settled?"

Zhou Ping jumped off his horse and said, "I was ordered by my master to go to the Duke of Qi's mansion to arrest someone, and I happened to run into Chen Ruichang's carriage on the way."

The carriage was heading towards Huarong Lane, so we took the opportunity to capture him, saving us the trouble of going to the Duke of Qi's mansion to arrest him and having to argue with Chen Ruiwen.

The criminal has been imprisoned; I have come to inform you, sir.

Zhou Ping glanced at the back street and said, "Sir, Xue Pan isn't even an accomplice; he's just a nobody."

"Sir, you have a good relationship with the Earl of Weiyuan, why bother arresting him yourself? Let me, your humble servant, go into the mansion and apprehend him."

Yang Hongbin shook his head and said, "Just because I have a relationship with him, I have to personally interrogate Xue Pan..." (End of this chapter)